On February 1, 2003, the Columbia space shuttle completes 79 experiments and is positioned for re-entry into the Earths atmosphere. Traveling at 22 times the speed of sound, the shuttle is shrouded in intense heat. At 8:54 a.m., the shuttles gauges in Columbias left wing and left landing gear show unusual temperatures, and the shuttle loses stability. At 8:59 a.m., Mission Control in Houston receives its last message, broken off in mid-sentence. A few seconds after 9 a.m., Columbia breaks up in a shower of molten metal. The crew of seven is killed instantly. A painstaking analysis of all existing film footage eventually solves the mystery that grounded all space shuttle missions for the last two years. What caused the loss of Columbia? Did anyone know that there was a problem before re-entry? Could this accident have been avoided and the crew saved?