Abstract
Contrary to common belief and wide spread misinformation relayed on local, national and international media networks, real reasons of failure of space shuttle orbiter Columbia remain concealed for over 17 years. In this report, it is revisted. It is found that reason was not failure and detachment of ceramic tiles (used as heat shield) or strike of foam from exterior of fuel tank during ascent. Similar, even severe, incidents took place earlier (e.g. on STS -1 and 27) as well still, pilots managed to safely land space craft to ground. It was over excitment, enthusiam, followed by distractions (e.g. live in orbit speaches downlinked to earth and then to India via terrestial network), neglegence, inexperienceness, incompetence and chronic fatigue of Ms. Kalpna Chawla which became the reason of failure and demise of all 7 crew members and loss of orbiter. She was not focused, and remain unsuccesful in following the guidelines and instructions of captain and operating critical equipments in a sequence required quickly (e.g. Active thermal control systems (ATCS), engine start valve sequence), that lead to chain of events which resulted in tragedy. This is rvisited and thoroughly researched.


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