The National Space Society invites you to the next Space Forum
Thursday, Augusts 15, 2024, 9:00 pm to 10:15 pm EDT
Bringing Columbia Home:
The Untold Story of a Lost Space Shuttle and Her Crew
With:
Join the next NSS Space Forum to hear the inspiring story of the extraordinary efforts to recover the remains of the Space Shuttle Columbia and her crew after the tragic accident on February 1, 2003. In their book, Bringing Columbia Home: The Untold Story of a Lost Space Shuttle and Her Crew, co-authors Michael Leinbach and Jonathan Ward chronicle the tragic loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia during its STS-107 mission and the massive recovery effort that ensued, involving thousands of people from NASA, the FBI, local law enforcement, and volunteers.
The Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere, killing all seven astronauts on board. The disaster was caused by damage to the shuttle’s left wing leading edge, which occurred during launch when a piece of foam insulation from the external tank struck the wing, creating a breach that allowed hot gases to penetrate and weaken the internal structure, causing the shuttle to break apart.
During the space forum, Mike and Jonathan will describe the details of the search that covered more than 2,000 square miles across Texas and Louisiana, where debris was scattered. They will share personal stories from those involved in the recovery, highlighting their dedication, resilience, and the strong sense of community and teamwork. As with most tragedies that involve the interplay between human activities and technology, Mike and Jonathan will also reflect on the lessons learned from the Columbia disaster, both in terms of technical and organizational changes at NASA that led to improvements in shuttle and spaceflight safety.
Don’t miss this important space forum that looks back on a national space tragedy while providing an inspirational message of honoring both the crew of STS-107 and the story of those who “Brought Columbia Home.” Register for the space forum today using the links in this message.
As a special bonus, NSS has secured four copies of “Bringing Columbia Home.” These books will be signed by co-authors Mike Leinbach and Jonathan Ward and will be given away as virtual door prizes.
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Mike Leinbach was the final Shuttle Launch Director at NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida. He was responsible for overall shuttle launch countdown policy, planning, and execution activities in the last eleven years of the program. Mike’s NASA career began in 1984 when he joined the agency as a structural engineer. He quickly rose through the ranks, initially leading design efforts for critical launch pad systems. By 1988, he became a NASA Test Director, overseeing daily operations at the Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex.
In 1991 Mike was named Shuttle Test Director, conducting the terminal countdown and launch of seventeen shuttle missions. In August 2000 he became the Launch Director and led the Launch Team for all Shuttle missions from then to the end of the program in 2011, serving as the person to give the final “Go!” for launch.
In 2003, following the tragic breakup of Space Shuttle Columbia, Mike led the initial debris recovery efforts in Texas and Louisiana. He spearheaded the Columbia Reconstruction Team, which meticulously analyzed the collected debris to determine the cause of the accident. His innovative suggestion to loan the debris to academic institutions has contributed to the development of safer spacecraft. Following his retirement from NASA in November 2011, Mike transitioned to overseeing human space operations for United Launch Alliance ((ULA), where he helped to integrate ULA ‘s Atlas V rocket with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew program.
Mike collaborated with author Jonathan Ward on the project “Bringing Columbia Home,” which chronicles the recovery efforts and legacy of the Columbia disaster. This project underscores his commitment to honoring the memory of the Columbia crew and advancing the field of space exploration. His many service awards include the Presidential Rank Award, NASA’s Exceptional Service Medal, and NASA’s Medal for Outstanding Leadership.
Jonathan Ward is the author of four space history books, a cruise ship astronomer and enrichment speaker, and an avid astrophotographer. Jonathan’s most recent book, “Through the Glass Ceiling to the Stars,” was written in collaboration with astronaut Eileen Collins, the first American woman to pilot and command space missions. Jonathan and Eileen have given book signings and presentations about Collins’ life and spaceflight missions at regional and national conferences across the US. A feature-length documentary “Spacewoman,” based on the book and produced by Haviland Digital, is scheduled for release in 2025.
Jonathan is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador. Jonathan spends about half the year at sea as a space exploration lecturer and astronomer on ocean cruises. In the past two years he has been featured on Viking, Cunard, Atlas, Silversea, Celebrity, and Oceania voyages.
While he would not call himself a “thrill-seeker,” Jonathan does like to travel, explore, re-invent himself, and push himself out of his comfort zone to broaden his personal knowledge in his areas of interest. This has led to such diverse experiences as taking a zero-G flight, skydiving, and singing on two GRAMMY-winning albums with the National Symphony at “the Other Kennedy Center” (for the Performing Arts). He resides in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Register today to reserve your seat and ask your questions. Use the link below.
Register no later than August 15 at 8 pm EST
2 thoughts on “Space Forum August 15: Bringing Columbia Home”
I guess it wasn’t NASA standard operating procedure for someone to do EVA to inspect the exterior of the shuttle to make sure no damage to the heat tiles?
Thank you for sharing the details about the upcoming forum. It’s powerful to see how the recovery and preservation efforts have continued to honor the legacy of the Columbia crew. The emphasis on storytelling and the lessons learned from the tragedy serves as an important reminder of the risks and responsibilities involved in space exploration.
I was particularly interested in how the forum might address the technological advancements that have emerged from the Columbia recovery efforts, especially in materials science. For instance, have there been any significant developments in insulation technology as a result of the findings from the Columbia disaster? Understanding how lessons from the past are shaping current and future designs would be incredibly insightful.