What caused the initial breach in the Space Shuttle Columbia's thermal protection system?
Answer
Foam insulation striking the left wing during launch
The catastrophic failure originated from damage sustained early in the mission, specifically when a piece of foam insulation detached from the external tank and struck the leading edge of the left wing during the ascent phase. Although this damage went initially unnoticed, it created a critical breach in the thermal protection system. Upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, this flaw allowed superheated air to penetrate the wing structure, initiating structural weakening that ultimately led to the vehicle's disintegration under extreme aerodynamic stress.
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