CAPE CANAVERAL, FL -
NASA will honor the seven astronauts who perished when the space shuttle Columbia was destroyed 10 years ago.
The shuttle was on its way back to earth after completing a 16-day mission in space. Debris from the shuttle was scattered all over east Texas, just minutes from landing in Florida.
NASA will mark the anniversary Friday at a public memorial service at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Speakers include Evelyn Husband Thompson, who was married to the shuttle's commander.
An investigation determined the cause of the explosion was damage to the wing that occurred during liftoff. The shuttles were grounded for more than two years after the accident, while more safety measures were put in place. The shuttles retired in 2011.
