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.