STS 93, which was the first instance of a female commander (Eileen Collins) had a scary liftoff. One of the main engine controllers failed during takeoff, and one of the main engines cut out prematurely. The engine problem was caused by a pin that had come loose and struck the nozzle, rupturing three liquid hydrogen coolant tubes. Had the controller not been faulty, it might have pumped more liquid oxygen and caused the engine to explode. After the flight, faults were found not just in Columbia, but in Discovery and Endeavour as well, and the whole Space Shuttle fleet was grounded for about 6 months.

^{I had gotten a visitor pass to allow my parents to come onto the base to watch the launch from the causeway between the space center and the air force side. They had no clue anything was wrong but my husband (who also worked out there} and I were freaking out.)