STS-107: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Mission Insignia
Mission Statistics
Mission:	STS-107
Shuttle:	Columbia
Launch Pad:	39A
Launch:	January 16, 2003 9:39 a.m. CST
Last transmission:	February 1, 2003 7:59:32 a.m. CST
Landing:	Scheduled for February 1, 2003 8:16 a.m. CST
Duration:	15 days, 22 hours, 20 minutes, 32 seconds
Orbit Altitude:	166 nautical miles (307 km)
Orbit Inclination:	40.3 degrees
Distance traveled:	6.59 million miles (10.6 million km)
Crew photo

STS-107 was a space shuttle mission by NASA using the Space Shuttle Columbia, launched January 16, 2003. The seven-member crew was killed on February 1, 2003, when the shuttle disintegrated after reentry into the Earth's atmosphere. See Space Shuttle Columbia disaster for further details.

The mission of the STS-107

This was a multi-disciplinary microgravity and Earth science research mission with a multitude of international scientific investigations conducted continuously during 16 days in orbit.

• Commander Rick D. Husband, a U.S. Air Force colonel and mechanical engineer, who piloted a previous shuttle during the first docking with the International Space Station.
• Pilot William C. McCool, a U.S. Naval Commander
• Payload Commander Michael P. Anderson, a U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel and physicist who was in charge of the science mission.
• Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon, a Colonel in the Israeli Air Force and the first Israeli astronaut.
• Mission Specialist Kalpana Chawla, an Indian-born aerospace engineer who had logged a number of previous space missions.
• Mission Specialist David M. Brown, a U.S. Navy captain trained as an aviator and flight surgeon. Brown worked on a number of scientific experiments.
• Mission Specialist Laurel Clark, a U.S. Navy commander and flight surgeon. Clark worked on a number of biological experiments.

• Mass:
  • Orbiter Liftoff: 119,615 kg
  • Orbiter Landing: 105,593 kg
  • Payload: 14,553 kg
• Perigee: 270 km
• Apogee: 285 km
• Inclination: 39.0°
• Period: 90.1 min

The central element of the patch is the microgravity symbol, µg, flowing into the rays of the astronaut symbol.

The mission inclination is portrayed by the 39 degree angle of the astronaut symbol to the Earth's horizon. The sunrise is representative of the numerous experiments that are the dawn of a new era for continued microgravity research on the International Space Station and beyond. The breadth of science and the exploration of space is illustrated by the Earth and stars. The constellation Columba (the dove) was chosen to symbolize peace on Earth and the Space Shuttle Columbia. The seven stars also represent the mission crew members and honor the original astronauts who paved the way to make research in space possible.

An Israeli flag is adjacent to the name of Payload Specialist Ramon, who was the first Israeli to fly aboard the space shuttle.

• Space science
• Space shuttle
• Space Shuttle Columbia disaster