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Columbia report findings, recommendations
(CNN) -- After nearly seven months of looking into the cause of the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its seven-member crew, the 13-member accident investigation board issued findings and recommendations August 26 in a stinging 248-page report. Without sweeping changes, the report warns that "the scene is set for another accident." Key findings: • There were no indications to the Columbia crew or engineers in Mission Control that the mission was in trouble as a result of the foam strike during the ascent. • A breach in the shuttle's Thermal Protection System allowed superheated air to penetrate through the leading edge insulation and progressively melt the aluminum structure of the left wing. • The accident was not a random event but rather a result of the spaceflight program's culture, which had as much to do with the accident as the foam did. • NASA managers allowed practices detrimental to safety to develop, which stifled discussions and caused the evolution of an informal chain of command that operated outside the agency's rules. • There was no possibility for the crew to survive. • The shuttle's breakup had the potential to cause casualties among the public on the ground. NASA needs to better protect the public during launches and re-entry. Key recommendations: • Continue the space shuttle program with adequate funding. • Build a complement or replacement for the shuttle. • Prevent the shuttle's external fuel tank from shedding any debris before flying again. • Improve the shuttle's ability to sustain minor debris damage and develop tests to determine the resistance of current materials used in the orbiter. • Develop the capability to inspect and make emergency repairs to the Thermal Protection System while the shuttle is in orbit. • Upgrade the imaging system to provide more useful views of the shuttle during liftoff. Also consider using aircraft to provide additional views of the orbiter during ascent. • Design a better system to collect sensor data from the craft. • Expand a training program for NASA mission teams to look beyond launch and ascent, including the potential for loss of the shuttle and crew while in orbit. • Establish an independent technical engineering authority that looks at safety and does not have responsibility for schedule or program costs. • Reformulate management so that NASA's main office of safety has independent oversight over shuttle safety. • Conduct a vehicle recertification of the shuttle and its systems before operating the craft beyond 2010. Source: Columbia Accident Investigation Board report.
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