Kennedy Space Center
On February 1, 2003, "Columbia" and her crew of seven were lost during re-entry over Texas during the STS-107 mission (the 113th shuttle flight); a vehicle breakup triggered by damage sustained during launch from Pad 39A on January 16, when a piece of foam insulation from the orbiter's external fuel tank struck the orbiter's left wing. During reentry, the damage created a hole allowing hot gases to melt the wing structure. Like the "Challenger" disaster, the resulting investigation and modifications interrupted shuttle flight operations at KSC for more than two years until the STS-114 launch on July 26, 2005.
Columbia Place
Opened in 1977 as Columbia Mall, it was originally anchored by Belk, JCPenney, and Sears. Rich's opened a few months later. Dillard's replaced Belk in 1995 and closed in late 2008. JCPenney left the mall for a new Lifestyle Center, Village at Sandhill ten miles (16 km) away in 2007. On June 6, 2017, Sears announced that they would be closing as part of a plan to close 72 stores nationwide. The store closed in September 2017. The malls current only anchor store is Macy's. It is home to the only Macy's location in more than a 50-mile radius, which helps solidify the mall's presence and position in the market. On December 21, 2017, Macy's also announced that the store will be closing sometime in 2018. On January 19, 2018, Burlington announced that they would be closing as well on February 16, 2018.