Happy Facts: Space Shuttle Columbia

This video looks at some of the happy times and milestones that the Columbia Space Shuttle experienced, prior to the tragedy of 2003.
#Columbia
In memory of the Columbia astronauts.
Thanks and credit to NASA for the information and footage.
::::::::::::::::::::
Music: Close To You by Mark Tyner is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Support by RFM - NCM: • Close To You - Mark Ty...
::::::::::::::::::::

[@eddiekulp1241]

Columbia , the first and the best . Never will be forgotten

[@jsmith1746]

Columbia was my favorite shuttle. A bit heavier than her younger sister ships, but she was the pioneering space faring shuttle orbiter. Some other fun facts about Columbia:
She was the only shuttle with the distinctive black "chines" on the forward section of her wings. These were added just prior to her first flight due to concerns about temperature fluctuations and their affect on the hydraulic lines in that area (Columbia was not delivered with that area painted black). The black color would help stabilize the temperatures on that part of the wings as the shuttle orbited between daylight and darkness on each orbit. It was determined very quickly that the concerns were unwarranted, and so the remaining shuttles never had the forward part of their wings painted black.
Between Columbia's sixth and seventh flights, she underwent a major overhaul, notably the removal of the two ejection seats which had been active for its first four flights, and then deactivated for its fifth and sixth missions. Externally, the tip of Columbia's tail was fitted with a camera pod to house an infrared camera for the purpose of measuring re-entry heating patterns. The camera revealed data which later allowed technicians to remove several areas tiles on the upper part of the orbiters wings, thus reducing their weight and making them capable of carrying more in to space. Although the camera did not remain for long, the pod remained at the tip of Columbia's tail for the remainder of its life. Columbia's first mission to fly with the camera also carried Florida Congressman Bill Nelson. Nelson would later become the administrator of NASA during the Biden administration
Regarding Scott Altman and the move 'Top Gun', Altman specifically was the pilot seen in the iconic "flipping the bird" scene. He would later command Columbia's last successful mission, which was a mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope. Altman's last flight, this time on board Atlantis, was the last mission to visit the Hubble Space Telescope prior to the retirement of the shuttle.

[@FactBuffet]

You sure know your stuff!
I hope you liked the video 🙂