Columbia (spacecraft)

Columbia was a NASA space shuttle responsible for carrying astronauts and cargo to orbit, including servicing the International Space Station. Launched like an airplane with rocket boosters, it traveled into space, performed missions such as satellite deployment and repairs, then returned to Earth by gliding back and landing on a runway. Columbia was the first space shuttle to fly, in 1981, and completed 28 missions. Tragically, it disintegrated upon re-entry in 2003, resulting in the loss of all onboard. The disaster led to increased safety measures and significantly impacted space shuttle programs and space exploration policies.