They Were Aware of Foam, Not of Any Danger

"Experts have reviewed the high speed photography and there is no concern for RCC or tile damage. We have seen the same phenomenon on several other flights and there is absolutely no concern for entry. That is all for now. It's a pleasure working with you every day."

That's one e-mail that Columbia's commander, Rick D. Husband, and pilot, William C. McCool (pictured) were happy to have received during the doomed shuttle's flight. It was written as part of then-private correspondence, by flight director "Steve" Stich. NASA explains that the correspondence wasn't "official."

The pilots liked it, though. Rick Husband replied two days later, again on a "personal" level, "Thanks a million, Steve! And thanks for the great work on your part."

Regardless Stich's happy note, NASA has since revealed that there was an ongoing debate on the ground, as to whether the foam collision could have precipitated a calamity.

The consensus was that, while the possibility was there, previous similar-looking contacts produced only minor damage; and certainly, the mission and the crew were not in any danger.

Later, NASA as much as said that, even if catastrophic damage had been suspected (it was not), there was little that could have been done, on that mission, to save the crew.

Later, NASA said that, had they really thought the safety of the crew were in danger, there might have been some herculean efforts that could have been employed. Some of those possible efforts are now being explored, as backups for future shuttle missions.

Columbia disintegrated February 1, 2003, on re-entry, at about 13,000 miles per hour, over Texas. All seven aboard were killed. Many e-mails, including previously-private correspondence, have been released to the site below.

FMI: www.jsc.nasa.gov/news/columbia/107_emails/foamemails.doc; www.caib.us