PowerPoint Killed Seven: The Columbia Disaster

The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster of January 16th, 2003, claimed the lives of seven astronauts. An investigation revealed that a piece of foam insulation detached 82 seconds into launch, striking the shuttle's left wing and causing catastrophic damage upon re-entry. The incident highlights the devastating consequences of seemingly minor failures in complex systems, prompting reflection on both spacecraft safety and the effectiveness of communication, in contrast to the often ineffective ‘death by PowerPoint’ presentations.