NASA Releases Columbia Crew Survival Report

Migraineman writes "NASA has released a 400-page Columbia Crew Survival Investigation Report [16MB PDF.] If you're interested in a detailed examination and timeline of the events leading to the destruction of Columbia, this is well worth the time. The report includes a number of recommendations to increase survivability of future missions." Reader bezking points out CNN's story on the report, which says that problems with the astronauts' restraint systems were the ultimate cause of death for the seven astronauts on board.

Comments

Why did it took this long...

[grub]

Columbia Crew Survival Report:
They didn't.

Re:ultimate reason for the astronauts death

[MobileTatsu-NJG]

Is not the restraint systems. No restraint system could have saved them. The fact that their vehicle was disintegrating from burning up might have something to do with it.

Ack!! Not everybody read the article first. Use the spoilers tag!!

Re:ultimate reason for the astronauts death

[flaming error]

With a proper seat belt-airbag system, they might have been encapsulated in a wind vortex which insulated them from the heat of re-entry and cushioned their impact as they bounced across several Texas counties. Just sayin'.

CNN? Restraints? Oxymoron?

[arizwebfoot]

Lets try this CNN,
we'll put you in your car with tight seat belts
then we'll put a bomb under the car and ignite
then we'll test if the restraints had any impact on your ability to survive.

Assuming of course there is anything left of you to test.

Re:CNN? Restraints? Oxymoron?

[Anonymous Coward]

Despite lack of rhyme, that should end with this line
Burma Shave.

Re:CNN? Restraints? Oxymoron?

[Cochonou]

Don't be too rude with CNN. The actual NASA report, while very comprehensive and well written, still contains little gems such as:
For the first 15 to 20 seconds, the modeled loads would not cause serious injuries to a conscious crew member who was capable of active bracing. An unconscious or deceased crew member would have been more susceptible to injury.

Re:ultimate reason for the astronauts death

[Bandman]

This is why Scotty never bothered to install them. When going from Warp 8 to zero, seat belts are _not_ the issue

Re:Pretty amazing forensics

[Anonymous Coward]

It must be awful to watch that tape, seeing the agony on the crew's faces as they realize their fate.
Where's the torrent link?

Clearly an intertial dampener problem

[unassimilatible]

That, and no emergency transporter protocol.

Did Dale Earnhardt die in vain?

Re:ultimate reason for the astronauts death

[OglinTatas]

"As it was, they fell unconscious almost immediately after depressurization."

And that is a mercy. As the joke goes: I'd rather die peacefully in my sleep, just like grandpa, rather than screaming in terror like his passengers.

Re:ultimate reason for the astronauts death

[Anonymous Coward]

Wow, they didn't need to make that report at all! They could have just asked you. You should go ask NASA for a job.

Re:ultimate reason for the astronauts death

[Spy der Mann]

This is why Scotty never bothered to install them. When going from Warp 8 to zero, seat belts are _not_ the issue

Lord Helmet begs to differ!

Re:ultimate reason for the astronauts death

[pushing-robot]

You drove your car off a cliff. Moments before your car hit the ground, I plugged you right between the eyes with a sniper rifle. Your car hits the ground and creates a dramatic fireball. How did you die?

Awesomely.

Re:ultimate reason for the astronauts death

[joeytmann]

Well you need to have seatbelts if you are going Ludicrous speed, its just that much faster than Warp 8.

Re:Extreme forceful asphyxiation

[jeremyp]

Leela: Depth at 45 hundred feet, 48 hundred, 50 hundred! 5000 feet!

Farnsworth: Dear Lord, that's over 150 atmospheres of pressure.

Fry: How many atmospheres can this ship withstand?

Farnsworth: Well it's a spaceship, so I'd say anywhere between zero and one.