Seconds From Disaster Season 2 Episode 1 Columbia's Last Flight

On February 1, 2003, the world was left stunned as the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon re-entry, killing all seven crew members on board. In the first episode of season 2 of Seconds From Disaster, titled "Columbia's Last Flight," experts and eye-witnesses piece together the events leading up to this tragic incident.

The episode recounts the story of the final mission of Columbia, which launched on January 16, 2003, and was scheduled to last for 16 days. The crew, commanded by Rick D. Husband, included six other members: pilot William C. McCool, mission specialist David Brown, mission specialist Kalpana Chawla, mission specialist Michael P. Anderson, payload commander Michael J. Smith, and mission specialist Laurel Clark.

Using CGI recreations and actual footage from the mission, the episode shows how a fundamental design flaw in the Columbia's heat shield allowed a piece of foam insulation to fall off during the launch. This foam, which was supposed to protect the shuttle's fuel tank from the heat generated during liftoff, hit the left wing of the shuttle, creating a hole that allowed hot gases and plasma to enter the vehicle during re-entry.

As the episode explains, this flaw went unnoticed during the mission, and the crew, along with the thousands of people involved in the mission, were unaware of the danger they were in. However, as the shuttle entered the Earth's atmosphere at more than 12,000 miles per hour, the breach in the wing caused the shuttle to become unstable and break apart.

The episode also features interviews with experts and engineers who worked on the Columbia mission, as well as family members of the crew. They discuss the various factors that led to this disaster, including the political pressure that NASA was under to maintain the shuttle program despite its aging fleet.

Throughout the episode, viewers are given a glimpse into the lives of the crew members, who were all highly trained professionals with a passion for space exploration. The episode honors their memory by showing their dedication to their work and the sacrifices they made for the advancement of science.

In the end, "Columbia's Last Flight" serves as a reminder of the inherent risks involved in space exploration, and the importance of constant vigilance and attention to detail to ensure the safety of those who embark on these journeys.