Investigation
The NASA contingency plan specifies how a mishap investigation will be conducted. Most of the procedures were based on recommendations from the Rodgers Commission which examined the Challenger accident. The head of the investigation board was retired Admiral Harold 'Hal' Gehman Jr. He had headed the board which investigated the terrorist bombing of the U.S.S. Cole.
While NASA established the investigation board and selected its initial members the CAIB would have its own independent authority and would not answer to NASA. Procedures were established where the NASA engineers would investigate the accident while the CAIB would 'keep them honest' and ensure that they weren't avoiding any difficult issues or trying to sweep anything under the table.
Even though the foam hitting the left wing after launch was an obvious cause why and how the accident occurred was just as important. In addition the investigators wanted to ensure that they didn't ignore any other possibilities. It would be a long and comprehensive investigation.
While waiting for engineering data to come in the CAIB examined NASA's management structure and its culture - while the mechanical reasons for the accident were important, it was just as important to find the underlying reasons for why NASA let whatever went wrong happen.
The External Tank's insulating foam.
Previous cases of Bipod foam loss.
Columbia's debris.
The OEX recorder.
The Flight Day 2 Mystery Object.
Comparing the Columbia and Challenger accidents.
The release of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board report.
The 248 page Columbia Accident Investigation Board report.
The CAIB report's supplemental volumes.
Limitations in the CAIB report.
Who's to blame?
The CAIB members posed for a group portrait.
From left to right seated are board members G. Scott Hubbard, Dr. James N. Hallock, Dr. Sally Ride, Board Chairman Admiral (retired) Hal Gehman, Steven Wallace, Dr. John Logsdon, and Dr. Sheila Widnall. Standing from left to right are Dr. Douglas D. Osheroff, Maj. General John Barry, Rear Admiral Stephen Turcotte, Brig. General Duane Deal, Maj. General Kenneth W. Hess and Roger E. Tetrault. Photo by the CAIB.
Still video frames from the tracking cameras show the foam coming off of the bipod region of the External Tank and hitting Columbia.
The E208 video from Cocoa Beach and E212 video from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station which NASA engineers had to examine during the mission.
This computer enhanced video was generated after the accident. It shows the foam falling off and hitting the wing in far more detail.
What Happened
This launch photo shows where the foam fell off of the bipod 81 seconds later and where the bipod hit the leading edge of Columbia's left wing.
Dr. Douglas Osheroff photo by the author.
Photos by NASA and the CAIB.
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copyright 2005 Philip Chien All Rights Reserved
