What was Columbias status prior to breakup?
First, let’s look at Columbia’s re-entry profile. The Shuttle has 3 distinct phases to the standard re-entry profile: • Thermal Control Phase. This lasts from Entry Interface, when the first aerodynamic effects occur, until a speed of approximately 19,000 ft/sec (12,900 MPH, 11,200 kts, 20,900 km/h) has been reached. • Equilibrium Glide Phase. This is flight at a constant attitude as the deceleration due to drag builds up to approximately 1G. • Constant Drag Phase. The 1G deceleration is held until the orbiter enters the Terminal Area Energy Management interface, after which it is flying as a conventional, but very heavy and fast, glider. This is usually 52 NM (59 SM, 94 km) from the landing site, at an altitude of 83,000′, and a speed of Mach 2.5 (2500 ft/sec, 760 m/sec) The orbiter slows to below Mach 1 at about 49,000′, 22 NM (25 SM, 40 km) from the runway. Columbia was either at the end of the first phase, or the beginning of the second phase when she broke up. The first phase begi
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