Columbia Quick Facts

• The Columbia is launched into orbit from the Kennedy Space Center on January 16th, 2003 at 10:39 a.m.

• February 1, 2003 9:00 a.m. Mission Control loses all contact with the Columbia and its crew.

• 9:00 a.m. citizens of Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana report hearing a large bang, and they see flames in the sky.

• 9:16 the Columbia's scheduled landing, yet the shuttle is not to be seen.

• At 9:29 a.m. NASA declares a space emergency.

• 9:44 NASA warns citizens to stay away from possibly dangerous debris.

• 11:00 a.m. NASA begins to lowers its flag to half-mast next their countdown clock.