Columbia Tank Found on Lakebed

A tank from Shuttle Columbia (Source: NASA).

An aluminum tank from Space Shuttle Columbia has been found in Lake Nacogdoches, Texas in August 2011. The fragment emerged from the lake following an unusually severe drought. NASA has recognized the fragment as a Shuttle tank, and is now organizing its recovery. Soon the tank will be brought back to NASA Kennedy Space Center, in Florida, along with the other fragments of the spacecraft.

Space Shuttle Columbia broke up during reentry on February 1, 2003, after a 16 days mission. Analysis of the Shuttle debris will provide important clues on how to improve the design and the safety of future vehicles.

Andrea Gini

Andrea Gini is a scientific journalist and a professional of the space industry, working as a contractor on ISS Payload Safety. He is the Editor-in-chief of the Space Safety Magazine. Andrea is also Chairman of the Information and Communication Committee of the International Association for Advancement in Space Safety (IAASS), publisher of the Space Safety Magazine, and he is responsible for the communication strategy of the association, Andrea holds a BSc and an MSc in computer science from the University of Milano, a Master in scientific journalism from the International School for Advanced Studies of Trieste and a MSc in Space Studies from the International Space University.

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