February 1

What happened on February 1 in aviation and space history.

• February 1, 2003

  Space Shuttle Columbia disaster

  Accident — On 1 February 2003 the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated as it re-entered the atmosphere over Texas and Louisiana, killing all seven astronauts on board. It was the second of two Space Shuttle missions to end in disaster, after the loss of Challenger and its crew in 1986. The accident set the Shuttle programme on the path to retirement.