Columbia Space Shuttle
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Sci-207: Atmospheric Science
1-3: Columbia Space Shuttle
Eric Macias
SCI 207 Atmospheric Science
10/28/2023
2
Sci-207: Atmospheric Science
Columbia Space Shuttle
On February 1, 2003, the space shuttle Columbia tragically broke apart as it reentered Earth's
atmosphere, causing the deaths of all seven of the crew members who were onboard the shuttle
at the time. This was the second tragic accident that occurred while the space shuttle was in
operation. The accident was caused by a fragment of polyurethane foam insulation that
completely detached from the exterior tank of the shuttle and collided with the left wing of the
orbiter, resulting in significant structural damage. Because of this damage, the Columbia's heat
shield burst, allowing airborne gasses to pass through it when it reentered the atmosphere and
ultimately caused the shuttle to explode.
Before the catastrophic event, the space shuttle Columbia had undertaken a 16-day mission in
orbit, during which it conducted scientific investigations pertaining to the impacts of
microgravity on various phenomena. These investigations included the domains of combustion,
protein crystal formation, and materials processing research. These tests were planned to be
carried out when the shuttles were circling the Earth at a height of 175 miles, while still within
the atmosphere of the planet. Because of the way that we describe atmosphere, there is no
straightforward method to determine the upper bounds of an atmosphere. This is because of the
way that we define atmosphere.
Because of this, it will be impossible to establish a clear border
between the two areas. This is due in part to the fact that even at quite high elevations, air may
still be found, although in a much-reduced volume, but it is still there. Because of this, it is
difficult to determine an acceptable maximum level for the atmosphere.
The Columbia disaster happened in the mesosphere, which is located 39 miles above the surface
of the Earth. The layer of the atmosphere that is located between about 30 and 50 miles above the
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Sci-207: Atmospheric Science
surface of the earth is known as the mesosphere. The stratosphere and troposphere are located
below the mesosphere. The temperature starts to drop as you travel higher in altitude while you
are still inside the stratosphere, but the opposite is also true within the stratosphere. Because of
this, the temperature of the space shuttle as it reentered the Earth's atmosphere would rise, which
is why it is essential for the shuttle to be equipped with a heat shield to protect it from the
enormous amount of heat that would be generated by the shuttle's friction with the air molecules.
However, despite having a temperature of around 2732 degrees Fahrenheit, the troposphere does
not contain any heat in any significant amount. This is as a result of the very low air density that
exists inside the troposphere. This is what allowed the shuttle to survive reentry through this
layer; however, as the shuttle entered the homosphere, the air density increased significantly.
This is what made it possible for the shuttle to survive. Because of the friction with the air
molecules, the temperature within the damaged wing rises to around 4,500 degrees Celsius
(nearly 8,000 degrees Fahrenheit), which melts the aluminum trusses in the wing and ultimately
causes a catastrophic internal structural breakdown. This resulted in the disintegration of the
Columbia, which ultimately led to the deaths of all crew members.
Columbia disaster | History & Crew | Britannica
. (n.d.). Www.britannica.com.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Columbia-disaster#ref1026192
Aguado, E., & Burt, J. E. (2014).
Understanding Weather and Climate
(7th ed.). Pearson
Education (US).
https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9780133943672
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