Multiple Pieces of Foam Fly in Shuttle Launch, Forcing Fleet ... - Space
HOUSTON - NASA officials said Wednesday they would ground future space shuttle flights because foam debris that brought down Columbia is still a risk.
www.space.comDirect answer: The Space Shuttle that blew up during reentry was Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003.
Context and quick details:
- Cause: Damage to the left wing from a foam debris strike during ascent allowed superheated air to breach heat shield tiles on reentry, leading to breakup and loss of the seven crew.[1][2][7]
- Aftermath: NASA and the agency’s safety culture were profoundly reshaped; investigations highlighted the importance of debris risk management during ascent and the need for decisive anomaly response.[2][5]
- Notable references: Columbia’s disaster is widely documented in official reports and major outlets, marking it as a pivotal event in spaceflight history.[5][7]
If you’d like, I can pull a concise timeline of events from launch to loss, or provide a short explainer with key lessons learned and how they influenced shuttle programs thereafter.