Dangerous Missions - Space Flight

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We have been redefining our place in the universe since 1961. We have broken the bonds of gravity. We have walked on the moon. As part of this on going program of discovery in exploration the crew of the space shuttle Columbia launch from Cape Canaveral on January 16th 2003. It would end in tragedy this 113th shuttle mission was dedicated to the pure pursuit of science. Unseen by crew and spectators at the time as Columbia pushed skyward a piece of foam from the shuttles external fuel tank struck the leading edge of the orbiters left wing but the shuttle held firm and made it into orbit for 16 days the crew of seven worked 24 hour alternate shifts of intensive scientific experiments. On February 1st the crew and shuttle began their journey home disaster stuck.