This tile was removed from the left orbital maneuvering system (OMS) pod after being damaged on the first flight of Columbia in 1981. White LRSI (low-temperature reusable surface insulation) tiles were an integral component of the Space Shuttle orbiter's thermal protection system. This system shielded the vehicle from the destructively searing heat of re-entry into the atmosphere and also provided passive thermal control in orbit. White tiles shielded selected areas on the sides and upper surfaces of the vehicle where temperatures remain below 1,200 degrees F (650 degrees C). Originally, about 7,000 LRSI tiles shielded portions of the orbiter's vertical tail, OMS pods, upper wing, and the forward, mid and aft fuselage. However, most of the white ceramic tiles were replaced with quilted insulation blankets that were lighter weight, more durable, and easier to produce and install than the tiles.

NASA transferred a number of such tiles to the Museum after the STS-1 mission.