What are the decomposers in the underwater ecosystem? A: The decomposers in an underwater ecosystem are animal-like organisms called protists, fungi and bacteria. Referred to as saprotrophs, these organisms decom... Full Answer >
On 1 February 2003 the space shuttle Columbia exploded as it was attempting re-entry after a 16-day mission. All seven astronauts on board, including the first Israeli in space, were killed. Tributes to the astronauts were led by US President George W Bush.
Space Shuttle Columbia (NASA Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-102) was the first space-rated Space Shuttle in NASA's orbiter fleet. It launched for the first time on mission STS-1 on 12 April 1981, the first flight of the Space Shuttle program.Over 22 years of service it completed 27 missions before disintegrating during re-entry near the end of its 28th mission, STS-107 on 1 February 2003, resulting in the deaths of all seven crew members.t that time the shuttle fleet was expanded to include Discovery and Atlantis. Columbia returned to space on January 12, 1986, with the launch of STS-61-C. The mission's crew included Dr. Franklin Chang-Diaz, as well as the first sitting member of the House of Representatives to venture into space, Bill Nelson.