In 2003 the Space Shuttle Columbia launched successfully but after its mission was completed burned up on re-entry with the loss of all onboard. We look at how normalisation of deviation blinded many at NASA to a risk that had existed since 1981.
With John Chidgey.

Links of potential interest:

• Space Shuttle Columbia
• Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster
• STS-107
• When The Space Shuttle Didn’t Come Home
• Columbia Space Shuttle Disaster Explained
• List of Space Shuttle Missions
• A New Vision for NASA
• STS-27
• Legendary Commander Tells Story Of Shuttle’s Close Call
• This Is Why The Space Shuttle’s External Fuel Tank Stopped Being Painted White
• NASA - Report of Columbia Accident Investigation Board, Volume I
• Soyuz
• Project Gemini

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Episode Gold Producer: 'r'.
Episode Silver Producers: Carsten Hansen and John Whitlow.