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Columbia Accident Board Preliminary Recommendations

Posted by michael on from the picking-up-the-pieces dept.

fwc writes "The Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) has released some preliminary recommendations to NASA - To do a better job at inspecting the leading edge of the shuttle's wings, and also to ensure that pictures of the orbiter are taken while in orbit. More recommendations are to follow in the full report which is expected in June. More detailed information on the recommendations are at space.com and spaceflightnow.com. NASA Administrator O'Keefe seems optimistic that they will be able to return the shuttle fleet to flight by the end of the year since there has been no show-stopping problems which have been discovered during the investigation."

4 of 170 comments (clear)

  1. show-stopping problems by ih8apple · · Score: 3, Informative

    The problem I have with there being no "show-stopping problems" is that they are white-washing the risk away. There is inherent risk in space flight and the public is stupid if they think that it's now somehow safe (until they are shocked when the next O-Ring or Leading-Edge-of-the-Wing fails.)

    Here's a good analysis from 1996 about the Challenger disaster and inherent risk that people need to accept.

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    Why do I h8 apple?
    1. Re:show-stopping problems by amabbi · · Score: 3, Informative

      you are oversimplying things. the soyuz safety record, i believe, is actually worse than the shuttles (the shuttle had 2 catastrophic failures in 140 some-odd flights, the soyuz had 2 catastrophic failures in 130 some-odd flights.. or something to that effect). previous shuttle flights have come back with meteor damage, wing damage, tile damage..

  2. Re:Wait a sec... by Wyatt+Earp · · Score: 4, Informative

    A chunk of the craft didn't fall off.

    Some insulation on the fuel tank did.

    So far the Columbia Accident board has said that before resuming shuttle missions NASA must do a better job inspecting the leading edge of the spaceplanes' wings and ensure that the nation's spy satellites capture detailed images of the orbiter during each flight.

  3. Re:Show stoppers? by codegen · · Score: 3, Informative
    Would you use software that crashed 1-in-50 times

    You mean like Windows 95, which could not stay up for more than 49 days continuously (MS technote Q216641)?

    --
    Atlas stands on the earth and carries the celestial sphere on his shoulders.