Main content

Columbia space shuttle disaster

The US space shuttle Columbia broke up on its way back to Earth on 1 February 2003. It had been in use since 1981.

The US space shuttle Columbia broke up on its way back to Earth on 1 February 2003.

It had been in use since 1981.

Iain Mackness spoke to Admiral Hal Gehman who was given the job of finding out what went wrong. The admiral’s report led to the ending of the American space shuttle programme in 2011.

A Made in Manchester production for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service first broadcast in 2019.

(Photo: Space shuttle Columbia. Credit: Getty Images)

Available now

9 minutes

Last on

Thu 2 Feb 2023 03:50GMT
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service except South Asia

More episodes

Previous

Czechoslovakia's 'Velvet Divorce'

Next

The assassination of Burundian President Melchior Ndadaye

See all episodes from Witness History

Broadcasts

  • Wed 1 Feb 2023 08:50GMT
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service
  • Wed 1 Feb 2023 12:50GMT
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service
  • Wed 1 Feb 2023 18:50GMT
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
  • Wed 1 Feb 2023 23:50GMT
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
  • Thu 2 Feb 2023 00:50GMT
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service South Asia
  • Thu 2 Feb 2023 03:50GMT
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service except South Asia

Podcast