2003 Space Shuttle Columbia Tragedy: NASA Plan for Space Shuttle Return to Flight, Response to the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) Report by the Gehman Board, September 2003 [Ring-bound]

World Spaceflight News (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 12, 2003

This is the official NASA response to the report by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) on the last flight of space shuttle Columbia, which ended in the horrible, sudden loss of the vehicle and crew during entry on February 1, 2003. This document - dated September 8, 2003 - NASA's Implementation Plan for Return to Flight and Beyond, begins with a message from NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe: "In this, our Return to Flight Implementation Plan, we embrace the CAIB report and its recommendations as our roadmap to do so. But we will not stop there. We have also undertaken to raise the bar above the CAIB recommendations. In this plan, we have included critical actions to respond to our own internal review as well as observations from external sources that will make flying the Space Shuttle safer... When the fixes are completed and the Space Shuttle is fit to fly safely, then, and only then, will we be able to meet our third objective-return to flight."

This is a color and black and white reproduction of the complete text of the highly detailed and well-illustrated report, including many tables and illustrations, figures, color photos, and line drawings. It covers every technical aspect of the challenging tasks ahead:

External Tank Thermal Protection System Modifications * Orbiter Hardening * Reinforced Carbon-Carbon Nondestructive Inspection * Thermal Protection System On-Orbit Inspect and Repair * Entry with Minor Damage * Reinforced Carbon-Carbon Database * Minimizing Zinc Primer Leaching * Reinforced Carbon-Carbon Spares * Modeling Reviews * Ground-Based Imagery * Downlink Post-Separation * On-Vehicle Ascent Imagery * National Imagery and Mapping Agency Memorandum of Agreement * Update Modular Auxiliary Data System * Modular Auxiliary Data System Redesign * Enhance Wiring Inspection Capability * Solid Rocket Booster Bolt Catcher * Closeout Inspection * Micrometeoroid and Orbital Debris Risk * Foreign Object Debris Processes * Scheduling * Mission Management Team Improvements * Independent Technical Engineering Authority * Safety and Mission Assurance Organization * Reorganize Space Shuttle Integration Office * Detailed Plan for Organizational Changes * Mid-Life Recertification * Digitize Closeout Photographs * Engineering Drawing Update * Raising the Bar - Other Corrective Actions * Quality Planning and Requirements * Document/Government Mandated Inspection Point * Public Risk of Overflight * Contingency Shuttle Crew Support * Acceptable Risks * Critical Debris Sources * Waivers, Deviations, and Exceptions

World Spaceflight News has covered the Space Shuttle program since its inception, and we had the unfortunate duty of reporting on the Challenger tragedy in 1986. We had hoped that such a profound disaster would never occur again. America will always remember the courageous efforts of the brave crew of Rick Husband, William McCool, Michael Anderson, Kalpana Chawla, David Brown, Laurel Clark, and Ilan Ramon.

Product Details

• Ring-bound: 113 pages
• Publisher: Progressive Management (September 12, 2003)
• ISBN-10: 1592485022
• ISBN-13: 978-1592485024
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 10 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,310,287 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)