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Shuttle Columbia Launched July 1st
News story originally written on July 2, 1997
The orbiter Columbia was launched July 1, 1997. This begins a 16-day mission.
The purpose of this mission is to study the influences of a micro-gravity environment. This mission includes the MSL-1 or Microgravity Science Laboratory-1. Mission specialists will perform research in the areas of material science, biotechnology, and combustion. The MSL mission is just the start of more research that will be performed on the International Space Station.
The shuttle Columbia is the oldest orbiter in the shuttle fleet. It has flown 86 million miles! This flight of Columbia is commanded by Jim Halsell and piloted by Susan Still.
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