User:Lightning-strike

The Space Shuttle Columbia foam strike crisis is in indecent that stranded seven astronauts in space during STS-107 from January 16, 2002 to February 14, 2003. During the crisis the crew relied on the food and water storage that was unusually large due to an Extended Duration Orbiter package, because of this unusually large amount of food and water astronauts on-board were able to stay in orbit till flight day 30 (February 15). After it was decided that an in orbit repair at the time was too risky to be undertaken by the crew, an in orbit rescue was undertaken.

All seven astronauts were rescued by the Space Shuttle Atlantis and returned to earth safely on February 14, 2003 on flight day 29. Columbia was placed in an orbit that allowed it be repaired in orbit at a later date.

STS-107
STS-107 was a space shuttle mission by NASA using the Space Shuttle Columbia, launched 16 January 2003. 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.

Following launch on January 16th during a post launch photographic inspection of photos and video taken during the launch it was determined that possible damage was sustained to the thermal protection system components (reinforced carbon-carbon panels and thermal protection tiles) on the leading edge of the left wing of the Shuttle orbiter. Furthermore fallowing a visual inspection undertaken by Columbia commander Rick Husband which confirmed that a chuck of foam had indeed struck the left wing leading edge causing a hole 41 by 42.5 centimeters (16 by 16.7 in) in the protective RCC panel. After it was determined that a safe landing could not be done and an on orbit repair was too risky to the crew members a rescue mission would then be needed using the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Following this decision NASA went into emergency operations.

Preparing Atlantis
During the second day of NASA being in emergency operations mode it was determined that Space Shuttle Atlantis which was in processing for a March 1 launch on STS-114, could be expedited with no skipped safety checks for a February 10 launch.