alternatehistory.com

During reentry of Space Shuttle Columbia after her first flight (the first flight of the Space Shuttle Program), hot gas gets ducted into the right main landing gear well. The damage is far greater than it was IOTL, and Shuttle Columbia is lost during reentry. John Young and Robert Crippen are lost.

A rather rocky start for the Space Shuttle program indeed. What are the results? How will President Reagan handle the failure? NASA in general? Will a 'return to flight'* be attempted?
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