Several astronauts have tragically died during spaceflight missions. According to available records, a notable incident involved the crew of Space Shuttle Columbia.
On February 1, 2003, during its re-entry to Earth's atmosphere, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated, resulting in the loss of all seven astronauts on board. This incident, known as the Columbia disaster, occurred due to structural damage sustained during launch.
The astronauts who perished during the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster were:
| Name | Role | Incident Date | Incident Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rick D. Husband | Commander | February 1, 2003 | Vehicle disintegration on re-entry |
| William C. McCool | Pilot | February 1, 2003 | Vehicle disintegration on re-entry |
| Michael P. Anderson | Payload Commander | February 1, 2003 | Vehicle disintegration on re-entry |
| David M. Brown | Mission Specialist 1 | February 1, 2003 | Vehicle disintegration on re-entry |
| Kalpana Chawla | Mission Specialist 2 | February 1, 2003 | Vehicle disintegration on re-entry |
| Laurel Clark | Mission Specialist 4 | February 1, 2003 | Vehicle disintegration on re-entry |
| Ilan Ramon | Payload Specialist (Israel) | February 1, 2003 | Vehicle disintegration on re-entry |
These individuals are remembered for their contributions to space exploration and their ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of scientific advancement and human discovery.
