Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster: Graphic reveals what went wrong

It’s been just over 21 years since one of the darkest days in NASA’s history. 

On the morning of February 1, 2003, Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated as it reentered the atmosphere over Texas and Louisiana. 

The seven astronauts aboard – David Brown, Rick Husband, Laurel Clark, Kalpana Chawla, Michael Anderson, William McCool and Ilan Ramon – all lost their lives. 

The tragic event is being retold for a BBC Two documentary series airing distance from laguardia to new york city this week on BBC Two, ‘The Space Shuttle That Fell to Earth’. 

MailOnline has revealed a step-by-step graphic showing exactly what went wrong on that fateful morning, which changed NASA forever.

Damage to Columbia sustained during the shuttle’s launch in January 2003 had meant it wasn’t fit to attempt a safe reentry

(L-R) David Brown, Rick Husband, Laurel Clark, Kalpana Chawla, Michael Anderson, William McCool and Ilan Ramon lost their lives in the Space Shuttle Colombia disaster in 2003