Columbia Shuttle Crew Not Told of Possible Problem With Reentry

ABC ^

[rktman]

Well, before I transferred to KSC I was the test conductor proof testing he LH2 tanks in NOLA/MAF. Our first thought was that the LH2 tank had popped. Reviewing the films showed that the leak in the booster joint burned a hole in the tank. A little relief for me but it was still a crappy day regardless. The location the “torch” was burning in to is/was one of the beefy-ist parts of the tank. Right around the 2058 ring and where the SRB lower attach points were.

I remember reading some of the reports on the RCC issues and no doubt the RCC test panels were more than likely pristine panels and a lot tougher than ones that had been up and down a bunch of times.

[NELSON111]

It was my understanding they were told. I watched a NOVA special and they showed the email sent to them. It specifically stated there was a tile hit but that there was “absolutely” no threat to re-entry.

[dfwgator]

Here is the "As It Happened" FR Thread from that day.

[AP SCOOP] Space Shuttle Columbia Will Be Visible In San Francisco Area (6AM Pacific)

[Moonman62]

During the post launch film reviews we could clearly see the foam impact the wing but there was absolutely no way to check for damage without DOD’s help which we didn’t get.

IIRC, NASA didn't seek help or they turned it down.

Like I said, even if the damage was known, there was no way to do anything about it so

There were things that could have been tried.

See my post #45.

[central_va]

When the concept of the U.S. space station evolved into that of the International Space Station, which suffered from long delays and design changes before it could be completed, the service life of the Space Shuttle was extended several times until 2011 when it was finally retired — serving at least 15 years longer than it was originally designed to do.

[NELSON111]

This is from the "COLUMBIA CREW SURVIVAL INVESTIGATION REPORT"

3.4.1.3 Orbital operations The Columbia orbiter performed satisfactorily on orbit and the crew worked well as a team, accomplishing all scientific goals. On Flight Day 8, the crew was notified via email about the foam strike, but was told it was “not even worth mentioning other than wanting to make sure that [the crew is] not surprised by it in a question from a reporter.” The capsule communicator (CAPCOM)2 also relayed that there was “no concern for [reinforced carbon-carbon] or tile damage” and that there was “absolutely no concern for entry”. A video clip of the strike was included with the e-mail.3 No changes in the mission profile were thought necessary or recommended by the shuttle Mission Management Team, and the entry was flown as originally planned.

[MrB]

I brought this up with a lib-in-law shortly after the tragedy and all I got in reply was

“it’s always the liberals’ fault with you somehow, isn’t it.”

“Actually, yes.”

[Tijeras_Slim]

I remember that one. Ranks right up with the 9/11 live threads.

[rktman]

You are correct. It is the libs fault. You might refer to the lib-in-law as a radical left wing extremist demokkkrat and see how they respond. LOL!

[PhilDragoo]

They changed the glue formulation for adhering the foam to the external tank. That change was made at the request (pressure?) from the EPA. I know people inside NASA resisted.

with the new formulation, serious problems started.

We have a right to know the name of the person that made the decision to change the glue formulation. That person should be shamed for eternity.

I worked on the Shuttle Flight Control Design team at Honeywell. NASA has become very bureaucratic as is most agencies.

Still it grates me to no end that the history doesn't highlight the fact that evil humans at the EPA are the primary cause of the Columbia disaster.

~~~

Thank you for adding the clarity.

These were seven more sacrifices to the god of political correctness and scientific hoaxing.

Then came the Muslim president to change the mission of NASA from the new frontier to "Muslim outreach."

America's best minds and boldest aeronauts deserve our support to achieve humanity's destiny--not be cast into the shadows.

[potlatch]

I remember that day well, waiting and watching in horror. I think it was best not to tell them, and I believe they would have made the choice to try re-entry anyway. They knew the dangers involved and would have said any prayers - if they were pray-ers.

[Gene Eric]

>> How insulting that these humps decided what these extraordinarily capable and brave adults were allowed to know about their own fate.

Exactly.

Know way to send up air and supplies??? Seems like NASA was not well equipped to run this mission. Very damn sloppy.

I guess Bush inherited one Hell of disastrous operation.

[Gene Eric]

No way to send...

[devolve]

This is Major Tom to Ground Control....

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[GeronL]

Russia launched our last satellite ... into the Pacific Ocean just recently