The Columbia Disaster refers to the tragic event that occurred on February 1, 2003, when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. All seven astronauts aboard were killed, marking a significant loss for NASA and the space exploration community. The shuttle had completed its 28th mission, STS-107, which focused on scientific research. An investigation revealed that damage to the shuttle's thermal protection system, caused by foam insulation falling off the external tank during launch, led to the disaster. This incident prompted major changes in NASA's safety protocols and procedures to prevent similar accidents in the future.