Detta är ett avsnitt från september 2025.
8 februari 2003. Vid Kennedy Space Center i Florida är det fullt av folk. Rymdfärjan Columbia ska återvända till jorden efter 16 dagar i rymden, och familjer och personal har samlats för att välkomna astronauterna tillbaka. Men färjan dyker aldrig upp. Och snart kommer rapporter om märkliga ljusfenomen över Arizona och New Mexico. Ljusfenomen som en gång var en rymdfarkost.
Detta är berättelsen om Columbia-katastrofen. Ett rutinmässigt uppdrag, som slutade i tragedi.
Inläsare: Tind Soneby
Manus och research: Emmeli Nyblom
Redaktör: Alex Haeger
Producent: Oliver Bergman
Källor:
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ABC News (b). Feb. 1, 2003: Space shuttle Columbia disaster [Filmklipp]. YouTube. (Publicerad 2003-02-01, publicerad på Youtube 2024-02-01). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-euNiLdcu_I (Hämtad 2025-06-25).
CNN. In pictures: Space Shuttle Columbia’s final flight. (Uppdaterad 2024-04-12). https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/05/us/gallery/space-shuttle-columbia-final-flight (Hämtad 2025-06-25).
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Denver Post (The Associated press). 10 years after Columbia disaster, family members remember. (Uppdaterad 2016-04-30). https://www.denverpost.com/2013/01/30/10-years-after-columbia-disaster-family-members-remember/ (Hämtad 2025-06-25).
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Kridler, C. & Halvorson, T. Picking Up the Pieces: Solving the Columbia Mystery.
Space.com. (2005-07-04). https://www.space.com/1282-picking-pieces-solving-columbia-mystery.html (Hämtad 2025-06-26).
Mangan, L. The Space Shuttle That Fell to Earth review – the finest possible tribute to the astronauts who lost their lives.
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NASA (b). Columbia Accident Investigation Board Report Volume I. The Government Printing Office, Washington DC. (2003). https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20030066167/downloads/20030066167.pdf (Hämtad 2025-06-25).
NASA (c). (Uri, J). 20 Years Ago: Remembering Columbia and Her Crew, 2023-01-26, https://www.nasa.gov/history/20-years-ago-remembering-columbia-and-her-crew/?utm_source=chatgpt.com (hämtad 2025-06-25).
P3 Dokumentär. Rymdfärjan Columbia och dödskraschen [Podcast]. Sveriges Radio. (2024-08-22). https://www.sverigesradio.se/avsnitt/ny-p3-dokumentar-rymdfarjan-columbia-och-dodskraschen (Hämtad 2025-06-25).
Rice University. John F. Kennedy Moon Speech – Rice Stadium. Rice University. (u.å.). https://www.rice.edu/jfk-speech (Hämtad 2025-06-25).
Riley, P. Timeline of the Space Race 1957-69.
Encyclopedia Brittanica. (Uppdaterad 2025-06-13). https://www.britannica.com/story/timeline-of-the-space-race (Hämtad 2025-06-25).
Royal Museums Greenwich. Why did we stop going to the Moon? (u.å.). https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/why-did-we-stop-going-moon (Hämtad 2025-06-25).
Strickland, A. More than 20 years later, families of the Columbia crew carry on their loved ones’ legacies.
CNN. (Uppdaterad 2024-04-12). https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/12/world/nasa-columbia-shuttle-crew-families-scn (Hämtad 2025-06-25).
The Guardian. ‘Lock the doors’ – words that marked loss of hope for shuttle. (2003-02-13). https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/feb/13/columbia.spaceexploration (Hämtad 2025-06-25).
Tilley, J. Rick Husband: Life and Legacy of the STS-107 Columbia Commander, uppdaterad 2020-01-16,
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Tillman, N.T. The First Space Shuttle Flight Into Space.
Space.com. (2019-05-07). https://www.space.com/16793-first-space-shuttle-launch.html (Hämtad 2025-06-25).
TT. 30 år sedan rymdfärjan Challenger exploderade.
Epoch Times. (2016-01-27). https://www.epochtimes.se/30-ar-sedan-rymdfarjan-challenger-exploderade (Hämtad 2025-06-25).
TV4 Nyhetsmorgon. Stefan Borg blev ögonvittne till katastrofen när Challengers sprängdes [TV-program]. (2016-01-28). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkmgTR4Jp6s (Hämtad 2025-06-25).
Workman, K. The Challenger Space Shuttle Disaster, 30 Years Later. The New York Times. (2016-01-28). https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/01/29/science/space/challenger-explosion-30-year-anniversary.html (hämtad 2025-06-25).