08. Why did Columbia explode when going through the atmosphere? (A K2S Question)

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The Columbia Space Shuttle broke up when it re-entered the atmosphere because it was moving at extremely high speed and its heat shield was damaged, which let in hot gases created by the high velocity of the vehicle passing though the atmosphere.

Answer provided by Robert P. McCoy, Ph.D.


Image:K2S logosmall.jpg Question and Answer extracted from the book Kids to Space - by Lonnie Schorer


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