Spaceflight Now STS-107


Debris appeared to strike wing on launch
Posted: February 1, 2003

Launch event

This animated image shows two frames of video from shuttle Columbia's launch on January 16. A white puff between the orbiter's left wing and external fuel tank (circled) appears to be a piece of debris that struck during the climb to orbit. In a pre-landing briefing entry flight director Leroy Cain said engineers "took a very thorough look at the situation with the tile on the left wing and we have no concerns whatsoever."