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Nature 421, 562 (6 February 2003) | doi:10.1038/421562a

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Science had rare leading role in ill-starred shuttle mission

David Adam

The mission that tragically ended over Texas on 1 February was one of a vanishing breed — it was the first flight of the space shuttle in three years that was dedicated entirely to scientific research.Columbia was carrying more than 80 separate experiments across the spectrum of science, from tests on the effects of microgravity on protein-crystal growth and ant behaviour, to orbital observations of dust blown from the Sahara Desert, which may affect weather and climate in other regions.