# Columbia

> American Space Shuttle orbiter

**Wikidata**: [Q54383](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q54383)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Columbia)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/columbia

## Summary
Columbia was the first operational Space Shuttle orbiter, serving as a reusable spacecraft for NASA from 1981 until its destruction during re-entry in 2003. As the lead ship of the Space Shuttle fleet, it conducted 28 missions, including the inaugural Space Shuttle flight (STS-1) and the deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope. Its legacy is marked by pioneering achievements in reusable spaceflight and tragic loss, which reshaped NASA’s safety protocols.

## Key Facts
- **First operational Space Shuttle orbiter**: Maiden flight on April 12, 1981 (STS-1).
- **Destroyed during re-entry**: Disintegrated on February 1, 2003, during STS-107, killing all seven crew members.
- **Manufacturer**: Rockwell International (now part of Boeing).
- **Dimensions**:
  - Length: 37.24 meters
  - Height: 17.25 meters
  - Wingspan: 23.79 meters
  - Empty weight: 74,844 kilograms
- **Propulsion**: Three RS-25 engines and two Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) engines.
- **Payload capacity**: Up to 24,400 kg to low Earth orbit.
- **Missions flown**: 28 missions over 22 years, completing 4,808 orbits.
- **Distance traveled**: 201,497,772 kilometers.
- **Named after**: *Columbia Rediviva*, the first American ship to circumnavigate the globe.
- **Serial number**: OV-102.
- **Operator**: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
- **Country of origin**: United States.

## FAQs
### Q: What was Columbia’s role in the Space Shuttle program?
A: Columbia was the first operational orbiter, proving the viability of reusable spacecraft and conducting critical missions like the Hubble Space Telescope deployment.

### Q: How many missions did Columbia complete?
A: Columbia flew 28 missions between 1981 and 2003, spending 300 days in space.

### Q: What caused the Columbia disaster?
A: A piece of foam insulation struck the orbiter’s wing during launch, damaging thermal protection tiles and leading to structural failure during re-entry.

### Q: Was Columbia the only lost orbiter?
A: No. Challenger exploded during launch in 1986, but Columbia was the first orbiter lost during re-entry, occurring 16 years later.

### Q: What replaced Columbia after its loss?
A: NASA relied on remaining orbiters (Discovery, Atlantis, Endeavour) until the program’s retirement in 2011, later transitioning to commercial crew vehicles like SpaceX’s Dragon.

## Why It Matters
Columbia revolutionized spaceflight as the first reusable orbital spacecraft, drastically reducing launch costs and enabling routine access to space. It paved the way for the International Space Station’s construction and deployed iconic instruments like the Hubble Space Telescope. Its 2003 disaster exposed critical safety flaws, prompting reforms that improved crew safety for future missions. As the inaugural orbiter, Columbia symbolized NASA’s engineering prowess and ambition, shaping decades of space exploration.

## Notable For
- **First operational Space Shuttle orbiter**: Set the standard for reusable spacecraft design.
- **Hubble Space Telescope deployment**: Launched the observatory in 1990, revolutionizing astronomy.
- **Longest single mission**: STS-80 (1996) lasted 17 days, 15 hours, and 53 minutes.
- **Tragic loss**: The 2003 disaster led to the implementation of the Constellation program and commercial crew initiatives.
- **Testbed for advancements**: Tested fly-by-wire systems, thermal protection materials, and robotic arm operations.

## Body
### Design and Specifications
Columbia was constructed at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, by Rockwell International. It featured an aluminum airframe, a 24,400 kg payload capacity, and a crew compartment for up to seven astronauts. Its thermal protection system (TPS) included over 24,000 ceramic tiles to withstand re-entry temperatures exceeding 1,500°C. The orbiter was powered by three RS-25 engines, fueled by liquid hydrogen and oxygen, and maneuvered using two OMS engines.

### Operational History
- **Maiden Flight (STS-1)**: Launched on April 12, 1981, crewed by John Young and Robert Crippen, validating the orbiter’s performance.
- **Hubble Deployment (STS-31)**: Deployed the Hubble Space Telescope on April 25, 1990, during its 10th mission.
- **Long-Duration Missions**: Conducted microgravity research on flights like STS-78 (1996), which lasted 16 days.
- **Final Mission (STS-107)**: Launched on January 16, 2003, focusing on biomedical and materials science experiments. The crew included Ilan Ramon, Israel’s first astronaut.

### Legacy and Impact
Columbia’s success validated the Space Shuttle’s reusability concept, reducing per-mission costs from $1.5 billion (early flights) to $450 million by the 1990s. Its loss in 2003 halted shuttle flights for 29 months, prompting NASA to retire the aging fleet in 2011. The disaster directly influenced the development of the Orion spacecraft and SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, emphasizing crew safety. Columbia’s artifacts, including debris fragments, are preserved at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, serving as a memorial to its crew and a testament to its historic role.

### Related Entities
- **Space Shuttle Program**: NASA’s flagship human spaceflight initiative (1981–2011), which included five other orbiters: Enterprise (test vehicle), Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour.
- **Rockwell International**: Primary contractor for the orbiter’s design and construction, later acquired by Boeing.
- **Hubble Space Telescope**: Deployed by Columbia in 1990, capturing over 1.5 million observations across 34,000 celestial targets.
- **STS-107 Crew**: Commander Rick Husband, Pilot William McCool, and mission specialists Michael Anderson, Kalpana Chawla, David Brown, Laurel Clark, and Ilan Ramon.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/566250main_SHUTTLE%20ERA%20FACTS_040412.pdf)
2. [Source](https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2011-jul-05-la-fi-shuttle-legacy-20110705-story.html)
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. [Source](https://github.com/JohnMarkOckerbloom/ftl/blob/master/data/wikimap)
5. [Source](https://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/columbia_info.html)
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. [Source](https://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/features/000414overhaul/birthplace.html)
8. [Source](https://astronomy.com/news/2018/04/the-columbia-space-shuttle-first-launched-37-years-ago)
9. BBC Things
10. [Source](https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4225/diagrams/shuttle/shuttle-diagram-4.htm)
11. [Source](http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/129/129quicklook2.pdf)
12. [Source](https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/1.pdf)
13. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
14. KBpedia