The Space Shuttle Columbia was the first shuttle in NASA's fleet and completed its final mission, STS-107, on January 16, 2003. During this mission, the shuttle carried a diverse crew and conducted various scientific experiments in microgravity. Tragically, on February 1, 2003, Columbia disintegrated upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, resulting in the loss of all seven astronauts on board. The disaster led to a thorough investigation, revealing issues with the shuttle's thermal protection system, and prompted significant changes in NASA's safety protocols for future missions.