On February 1, 2003, Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during re-entry into Earths atmosphere, killing all seven crew members aboard. The disaster occurred 16 minutes before landing, caused by damage to the shuttles left wing during launch. The damage, which was sustained from a piece of insulation foam striking the wing, led to the loss of control during re-entry. This was the second fatal accident involving a shuttle in NASAs history. The tragedy resulted in a suspension of the space shuttle program and significant safety overhauls for NASA.