WORLD NEWS TONIGHT SATURDAY (06:30 PM ET) - ABC February 1, 2003
NASA SAFETY
PETER JENNINGS, ABC NEWS
(Off Camera) Now, as to safety. There was, as you heard, this issue about the takeoff and whether or not a piece of insulation had hit the wing and they could have done anything in between. ABC's Lisa Stark is at Mission Control in Houston tonight, from where the flight was being controlled. Lisa, safety is a huge issue for this agency now. LISA STARK, ABC NEWS
(Off Camera) Absolutely. It always has been, Peter, even more so tonight, obviously. Now, liftoff of the shuttle is usually considered the most critical, the most dangerous time during the flight. And in fact, in the 42-year history of space flight, NASA has never had an accident during re-entry and landing, until today.
LISA STARK (CONTINUED)
(Voice Over) This was Columbia's 28th flight since it was first launched in 1981. The shuttle is among the world's most complex vehicles used to transport people. This is the oldest shuttle at 22 years, but Columbia has undergone two major overhauls, the latest was completed just last year when 100 modifications were made to the orbiter. This is the second mission since that work was done.
JOHN PIKE, ABC NEWS CONSULTANT
They have been continuously improving and modifying the hardware on the shuttle, so I don't think that the age of the fleet is a concern.
LISA STARK
(Voice Over) As the shuttle re-enters the earth's atmosphere, it is subject to maximum intense heat and pressure.
JOHN PIKE
What they're going to be looking at is the question of whether there was damage to the thermal protection system, the tiles on the shuttle, possibly at liftoff, that might have contributed to a failure of the heat shield and loss of control.
LISA STARK
(Voice Over) The crew at the controls of the Columbia was the most inexperienced in space ever, but experts say they doubt that played a role in this accident.
LISA STARK (CONTINUED)
(Off Camera) Now, today's tragedy, as well as the Challenger disaster in 1986, means two major shuttle accidents in just a little over 100 flights. NASA will obviously, again have to take a very serious look at the safety of its shuttle program. Peter?
PETER JENNINGS
(Off Camera) Thanks, Lisa. Lisa Stark in Houston.
Copyright © 2003, American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.
