Columbia disaster: Evidence tells the story of tragic ending to space mission

Space shuttle Columbia was 16 minutes away from landing in Florida. It never made it. Instead, what our WFAA cameras captured was the shuttle exploding.

[YoYoknots]

From what I understand, they actually tested the impact of insulated foam on the tiles, and initially it seemed like it wasn't strong enough to actually punch a hole in the tile and cause damage, but when they switched up WHICH tile was impacted (from a standard wing tile to the corner tile that flowed from the wing to the main body), boom. Went straight through.

[_CatBug_]

I still remember them asking citizens to turn in any found debris.

[nancydavis]

Watching it break up on TV was very heartbreaking😩

[mr.naughtypants]

Back then they showed on the news a astronaut helmet was found just sitting on the ground, totally burned, no lense, no paint, just burnt. It didn't end well for that crew, they burned to death.

[climberis]

My mom ran into my bedroom and told me this happened because she knew the astronauts. One of my first memories

[melaniezirixa]

And they are still finding pieces today. It's also what turned me away from becoming an astronaut.

[laurencordova]

rick husband was from my hometown our airport was renamed after him after his death

[ericgiebel]

I can somewhat understand why so many wanted to keep the pieces they found, but myself would have wanted to give it up. Hey, if I found a gun or a body on the side of the road, I wouldn't even touch it!! Call those who will!!

[tmldhux]

I was living in Dallas area. Heard a boom, thought one of the kids had fallen out of their bunk beds. Nope. Ran outside, looked up in the sky, could see a long white plume overhead. Turned on the tv, realized it was the Columbia. They were finding pieces all over the place. Very sad.

[lydiawood]

Becoming an astronaut you know this could happen.

[sonnyburnett]

A rancher lady found the tape of the interior cockpit conversations that apparently showed it coming apart. There were reports of some things said before it ended. She decided to turn it over to NASA but you have to wonder if a copy was ever made.

[melodymacken]

I have always wondered if the tiles were checked before the Voyage. And, how old were the tiles.

[MartinaRuiz-lps]

Hey Coy! We missed you today! Can we get a shout out to Mrs. Ruiz's 5th grade class at Lillian Schumacher Elementary School in Liberty, MO? We watch CNN10 every day. Keep shining and rise up!!!

[mikeoliver]

"Exploading" reference around 1:15 into the video? Is that the most accurate term to use? I prefer "break up".

[imtorrific]

I'm from East Texas and I think a few pieces were found near where I lived.

[tashie.]

I sleep walk when I get really stressed out and for some reason when the season changes from summer to fall. I used to do this to my mom all the time. Needless to say she was kinda creeped out by me. When I was younger I sleep walked into the kitchen and handed my mom the phone and told her it was for her, about 5 seconds later it started ringing and it was my grandma calling for my mom. Also once I was napping on the couch, apparently according to my mom I sat up and asked her what she was watching, when she told me she was watching the space shuttle land, I said to her “well it’s gonna explode” then laid back down and went back to sleep…she was watching the Columbia shuttle. All I remember was her frantically shaking me awake asking what made me say that!! After that she started calling me baby Edgar Casey and to this day she still brings it up and asks me what made me say that. Sometimes it’s embarrassing because I have to warn new partners that sometimes i get up and walk around and hold conversations but I’m still asleep and won’t remember anything we talked about.

[unzsiue]

I SPENT 30 DAYS IN HEMPHILL TEXAS ON THE SHUTTLE RECOVERY...IT WAS AN HONOR TO HELP OUT..WE CAME FROM NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO..

[DragonLord]

Don't that FACT that they decided to wait until the Astronauts were preparing for return before they even mentioned it at all and when then Astronauts asked if they should go out and take a firsthand look, NASA said, "naaaa we think you'll be okay"... I'm sorry WHAT??? You "THINK" they will be okay. I know that one NASA worker begged to let him tell the Astronauts about it and he was warned/threatened not to do any such thing, ummm that gentleman later committed suicide.. How many NASA employees are spending the rest of their lives in prison (where they should be "in my opinion), I mean aren't they guilty of 7 murders?

[Michaelobama]

The shuttle never achieved an altitude higher than 62 miles above the ground. The Air is too thin to support the Flight of anything. The pilot of the Columbia Shuttle allowed the shuttle to glide down too fast to make it appear that it was coming from space. He didn't have to do that.

[DARK_PARADISE]

I don't wanna see you go down like this again