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The investigation into the space shuttle Columbia disaster starts with a focus on a piece of foam insulation that fell off the shuttle's fuel tank and hit its left wing during launch. Columbia broke apart upon re-entry Saturday, killing all seven astronauts aboard. NPR's Joe Palca reports on the first stages of the probe.

Internet auction site eBay removes listings posted by people selling what they claim is debris from the space shuttle Columbia.

Jazz percussionist Mongo Santamaria dies on Feb. 1 at 85. Santamaria scored a Top-10 hit with his version of Herbie Hancock's jazz-funk classic "Watermelon Man" in 1963. He also wrote the song "Afro Blue," later performed and made famous by John Coltrane. NPR's Elizabeth Blair has a remembrance.

Host Bob Edwards talks with NPR’s Larry Abramson about the details emerging from the latest NASA briefing on the space shuttle Columbia disaster.

Host Michele Norris talks with NPR's Debbie Elliott from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, where an independent board appointed by NASA began its investigation of the shuttle disaster today. Debris from Columbia will be taken to the base for scrutiny.

Robert talks with Jim Hall, former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, about NASA's decision to use the NTSB model to figure out why the Columbia broke up on re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere.

NPR's Eric Niiler reports on the process of identifying the remains of the seven astronauts aboard the Columbia space shuttle. NASA will identify the bodies using dental records, blood type, fingerprints and, perhaps, DNA.

Host Robert Siegel talks with NPR's Richard Harris about today's news conferences on the space shuttle Columbia recovery and investigation.

Critics have expressed growing concern over NASA's extensive use of outside contractors in its shuttle program. NPR's Howard Berkes talks to host Michele Norris about the program, and about whether the use of contractors may be considered a possible factor in Columbia's failure.

NASA administrator Mike Kostelnik says there was no reason to think that possible damage to the space shuttle Columbia on liftoff was reason for concern. Meanwhile, the agency expands the search for debris, establishing a second collection site in Texas. NPR's Debbie Elliott reports.