CAIB Says Flight Tests May Be Condition For Program Restart

America's three surviving space shuttles very well may return to flying missions for NASA. But first, they may have to be flight-tested with modifications recommended by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

The CAIB seems to be sending mixed signals about the possibility of requiring test flights before Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour resume full-blown missions. CAIB Chairman, Harold Gehman, Jr. (Adm., USN, retired), contradicted those board members advocating test flights, saying, test flights are unlikely, but would be conducted "if we think that's what it takes."

What Would A Shuttle Test Flight Entail?

Gehman wouldn't say what criteria would have to be met during a shuttle test flight, should such demonstrations be required. But if you harken back to the early 1980s, you'll recall that Columbia's first four flights were considered tests, carrying only two astronauts instead of its full compliment of seven.

CAIB investigators say there will almost certainly be strong recommendations for closer, more prudent inspections of shuttle spacecraft between flights. Columbia was on its 28th mission when it disintegrated 60,000 feet over Texas and Louisiana, killing all seven astronauts onboard, Feb. 1. Investigators are also considering the possibility of recertifying some parts on the 20-something year old shuttles, given evidence of wear and tear - in some cases, which was unexpected.

Going To DC To Wrap It Up

Gehman and the other 12 members of the CAIB are slowly heading back to Washington after visits to the debris field in East Texas, as well as NASA's Houston and Canaveral facilities. In Washington, they'll sit down to write an exhaustive report on the Columbia tragedy. Gehman says he expects the final document will be a "very, very thick report." You can expect that very, very thick report will contain some harsh criticisms of NASA's use of outside contractors, like Boeing, to take over tasks that had been reserved for space agency personnel. That, says Brig. Gen. Duane Deal (USAF), means NASA doesn't know what it can't see for itself. "There are a few things that NASA is not laying their eyes on that are critical ones ... and we believe that they should be laying their eyes upon all those crit-one items." Deal said no one interviewed in the Columbia investigation - "from line technicians all the way through management" - was happy with the way shuttle inspections were conducted. Nor, he said, were they pleased with the number of inspections between shuttle flights.

FMI: www.caib.us