What happened to Columbia?

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Launch

Orbiting
the earth

Preparing
to return

Re-entry 1

Re-entry 2

Columbia
breaks up

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Re-entry: 1

Columbia re-entered the atmosphere at an angle of between 28 and 38 degrees.

During this time shuttle would have reached speeds of Mach 20. Friction with the Earth's atmosphere generates heat in excess of 1,000 degrees Celsius.

About 20,000 ceramic tiles covering the shuttle's surfaces protect it and the crew from the intense temperatures.