What happened to Columbia?

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Launch

Orbiting
the earth

Preparing
to return

Re-entry 1

Re-entry 2

Columbia
breaks up

Next

Preparing to return

At 0815 (1315 GMT) on 1 February, the astronauts used Columbia's manoeuvring rockets located in the nose and tail to position the shuttle into the correct angle to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere.

Fine weather was predicted for Columbia's approach and landing.