The Space Shuttle Columbia was the first shuttle in NASA's Space Shuttle program, making its maiden flight on April 12, 1981. It was designed to carry astronauts and cargo into low Earth orbit, facilitating scientific research and satellite deployment. Columbia completed 28 missions over its operational lifetime. Tragically, Columbia was destroyed during re-entry on February 1, 2003, resulting in the loss of all seven crew members. This disaster led to a suspension of the shuttle program and a thorough investigation, highlighting the importance of safety in space exploration.