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13 February 2003

Columbia Disaster Opens Door to Examination of U.S. Space Effort

(NASA head testifies to Congress on disaster, investigation and the
future) (4730)
Members of the U.S. Congress and the head of the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA) agree that investigation of the
break-up of the space shuttle Columbia will prompt a larger look at
where the U.S. space program is headed. NASA administrator Sean
O'Keefe testified February 12 at a joint hearing convened by the House
and Senate subcommittees that oversee the space program.
O'Keefe described the initiation of the accident investigation and how
the disaster has affected the status of the other projects in the
space program. "We have an opportunity here and now to learn from this
loss, and renew the boundless spirit of exploration present at NASA's
beginning. We will do this by being accountable to the American people
for our failings and, we hope, credible and compelling in pursuit of
research, exploration, and inspiration for future generations," he
said.
Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics,
Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, said the issues that need attention
transcend the loss of Columbia and its seven astronauts as the shuttle
reentered Earth's atmosphere on the early morning of February 1. "The
lack of long-term goals, or a unifying vision for America's space
effort, for example, needs to be addressed. This failing weakened
efforts that would have led to the replacement of the Shuttle system
long before age became a factor, and age was a factor," Rohrabacher
said as he laid out larger goals for an inquiry into the Columbia
accident. "This gives us as an opportunity to revisit the fundamentals
and make recommendations that will chart America's future space
endeavors."
In the days since the accident, concern has emerged in Congress and
the press about the need for an independent investigation conducted by
objective authorities. O'Keefe assured the congressional panel that
the board members will conduct their inquiry with independence and
expertise. "Many have been chief investigators on major accidents,
and, between them, the Columbia Accident Investigation Board members
have the experience of some 50 major investigations to draw upon," he
said. "Quite simply, the people who are now on the Board are some of
the best in the world at what they do."
Special teams are also working to determine how the suspension in the
space shuttle program pending the accident investigation will affect
the International Space Station, described by O'Keefe as "the
centerpiece initiative of human space flight at NASA." They are
studying how to sustain the station, continue its assembly, and best
use its research capabilities. "The International Space Station is
stable and has sufficient propellant to maintain its orbit for at
least a year without support from the Space Shuttle," O'Keefe said.
Following is the text of O'Keefe's testimony as prepared for delivery:
(begin text)
February 12, 2003 
Statement of Sean O'Keefe, Administrator National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
before the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation United
States Senate and the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics Committee
on Science House of Representatives
Good morning.
I appreciate the opportunity to appear before this hearing of the
Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and the House
Science Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics to discuss the tragic
loss of the courageous crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia, the
on-going investigation into this tragedy, and the implications of the
loss of Columbia to the nation's space exploration efforts.
This morning, eleven days after the accident, our work continues to
honor the solemn pledge we've made to the astronaut's families and to
the American people that we will find out what caused the loss of the
Columbia and its crew, correct what problems we find, and do our
utmost to make sure this never happens again.
We welcome the committee's interest in working with NASA to help
determine how we can learn from this tragic accident so that we may
continue advancing the Nation's research and exploration objectives in
space while at the same time striving to ensure we make manned
spaceflight as safe as humanly possible.
Throughout NASA's forty-five years of serving the public interest,
Congress has been our partner, helping us achieve the goals outlined
in NASA's congressionally authorized charter. This charter compels
NASA to:
-- Explore, use, and enable the development of space for human
enterprise.
-- Advance scientific knowledge and understanding of the Earth, the
Solar System, and the Universe and use the environment of space for
research.
-- Research, develop, verify, and transfer advanced aeronautics,
space, and related technologies.
With the support of Congress, NASA has amassed a record of significant
achievements that have tangibly improved the lives of ordinary
Americans. When we have erred, you have helped us right our course.
This morning you will be asking us challenging questions. That's as it
should be. Believe me, none of the questions you will ask can be any
tougher than those we are asking ourselves.
I can assure you, however, that whatever determinations are reached
regarding the cause of the accident, you will find that complacency
will not be one of them. Last year we temporarily halted Shuttle
flight operations when tiny cracks were discovered in metal liners
used to direct the fuel flow inside propellant lines on two different
orbiters. We did not fly again until that problem was corrected. To
signal our continued commitment to rewarding such diligence, we also
made a point to praise David Strait, the young contractor employee who
discovered the cracks. Other flight decisions made throughout the year
were made with the goal of operational safety being paramount. And
from working with the dedicated employees who keep the Shuttle flying
safely I know they have the utmost regard for the enormity of their
duty.
This week, at NASA Centers throughout the country and in the field,
with the support of more than 2000 people from more than 20 federal,
state and local organizations, the important work of data analysis and
recovery operations is continuing. I am extremely proud of the work
that is being conducted by these dedicated public servants. As
President Bush said last week, "The people of NASA are being tested
once again. In your grief, you are responding as your friends would
have wished-with focus, professionalism, and unbroken faith in the
mission of this agency. Captain Dave Brown was correct: America's
space program will go on."
This morning, to help frame our discussion, I would like to review for
you the significant actions NASA has taken since the morning of the
accident in accord with our contingency plan. In addition to
articulating notification or first response procedures, defining the
roles and responsibilities of mishap response and mishap investigation
teams, the plan specifies selection of persons outside of NASA to head
an independent, seasoned accident investigation team.
While we did not foresee this terrible tragedy, our response has
unfolded as we had planned and prepared for in that contingency plan.
This plan was one of the many positive outcomes from the terrible loss
of the Space Shuttle Challenger seventeen years ago. The plan is
updated before every flight and a contingency was simulated just three
months ago.
First Response: Saturday February 1, 2003
When we first became aware of the a problem with STS-107, I was
waiting at the Space Shuttle Landing Strip at the Kennedy Space Center
on Saturday, February 1. At 8:59 a.m. eastern time, we lost
communications with the Columbia.
At 9:16 a.m. the countdown arrival clock reached zero and there was no
sign of the Columbia. Captain Bill Readdy, our Associate Administrator
for Space Flight, declared a spaceflight contingency and activated the
Recovery Control Center at the Kennedy Space Center.
At that point, Bill Readdy and I departed the landing strip and headed
to the Launch Control Center.
We arrived at the Launch Control Center thirteen minutes later, at
9:29 a.m., and we activated the Contingency Action Plan for Space
Flight Operations. Through the White House Situation Room, we notified
the President as well as other senior staff of the loss of
communication. In addition, members of Congress and the Government of
Israel were notified. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge and the
National Security Council were also made aware of the situation.
Secretary Ridge then began assessing the possibility that this
situation was terrorism-related. Shortly after, he made a
determination that it was highly unlikely terrorism was involved.
Secretary Ridge then announced that the Federal Emergency Management
Agency would be the lead Federal agency for the recovery effort.
Meanwhile, the family members of the Columbia astronauts were escorted
from the landing strip to the astronaut's crew quarters. Later that
morning, at about 11:30 a.m., I met with the families at the crew
quarters at Kennedy Space Center to express my condolences, offering
any and all support we could give, and stated our commitment to find
the cause of the accident, fix any problems we may find, and continue
the work that their loved ones had started.
Data at all NASA sites and contractors were impounded at 10:00 a.m.
and the Headquarters Action Center in Washington, D.C. was activated
with NASA personnel moving immediately to their duty stations.
By 10:30 a.m., the NASA Mishap Response Team convened to assess the
preliminary data and focus on the location of the crew compartment
through the Rescue Coordination Center at Langley Air Force Base in
Virginia. The Rapid Response Team was activated for deployment to
Barksdale AFB in Louisiana.
Columbia Accident Investigation Board
The process of initiating the Columbia Accident Investigation Board
began about 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 1, when I placed a call
to NASA Deputy Administrator Fred Gregory, who was at NASA
Headquarters in Washington. Mr. Gregory then began calling Columbia
Accident Investigation Board members currently listed in our
contingency plan.
At 1:15 p.m., I made a brief televised statement expressing our
"deepest national regrets" for the tragic accident and informed the
public about the appointment of the Columbia Accident Investigation
Board.
I verbally activated the Columbia Accident Investigation Board during
the NASA Mishap Investigation Team teleconference, which occurred at
5:00 p.m.
By 6:00 p.m. during a teleconference with the White House Situation
Room, we briefed officials from the Department of Homeland Security,
the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Defense,
the FBI, and the Federal Aviation Administration about the current
status of the accident investigation.
At 6:40 p.m. staff members of the National Transportation Safety Board
departed Washington and traveled to Barksdale Air Force Base in
Louisiana to assist as part of the Mishap Investigation Team. They
were later made available to the Columbia Accident Investigation
Board.
On Sunday, February 2, The Columbia Accident Investigation Board,
headed by retired U.S. Navy Admiral Hal Gehman, held its first meeting
at Barksdale AFB, less than 30 hours after the accident. We also began
the practice of twice daily briefings at Headquarters in Washington
and at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Membership in the Columbia Accident Investigation Board consists of
persons selected for their positions in heading civil and military
offices with responsibilities for aerospace safety accident
investigations and related skills. Many have been chief investigators
on major accidents and between them the Columbia Accident
Investigation Board members have the experience of some 50 major
investigations to draw upon. Quite simply, the people who are now on
the Board are some of the best in the world at what they do.
You have our assurance that this distinguished Board will be able to
act with genuine independence. When the Board assembled, it modified
its Charter to eliminate any reference to NASA directing the
administration of the investigation. NASA accepted the changes to the
Charter without objection. Further, the NASA Inspector General, Robert
Cobb is an observer on the Columbia Accident Investigation Board and
he will help assure the independence of the Board as he reports to the
President and Congress.
There are some additional details about the Columbia Accident
Investigation Board and its activities that are worth noting. The
Board has taken over hardware and software releases of NASA so that
NASA cannot alter anything unless the Board approves. NASA has already
begun to honor document requests from the Board, and has also supplied
additional documents to the Board which were not requested that we
believe may be helpful to their work. And finally, the Board has
instructed NASA to conduct fault tree analysis that it intends to
independently validate.
Recovery Operations
On Sunday, the NASA Mishap Investigation Team was on the ground and
working with local officials in Texas and Louisiana. The State of
Texas activated 800 members of the Texas National Guard to assist with
the retrieval of debris.
By Tuesday, there were nearly 200 NASA and NASA contractor personnel
working recovery operations in Texas, Louisiana, Arizona, and
California. They were part of the more than 2000 people from Federal
Emergency Management Agency, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal
Bureau of Investigation, Department of Defense, Department of
Transportation, U.S. Forest Service, Texas National Guard, and state
and local authorities working to locate, document, and collect debris.
By Wednesday, the astronauts' remains were transported to Dover Air
Force Base in Delaware. At Dover, NASA Deputy Administrator Fred
Gregory and a ceremonial honor guard were present to pay our respects
to the seven fallen astronauts.
Throughout the week, we were able to make steady progress in our
effort to recover debris from the accident. We have thus far recovered
upwards of 12,000 elements of debris. The search effort, as you know
from our press conferences, is a large, complex and on-going effort
over hundreds of square miles with challenging weather and terrain
conditions. We are very grateful that no one was injured on the ground
as a result of flying debris from the accident and we are working with
our agency partners to ensure recovery operations remain safe.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency command post was set up in
Lufkin, Texas on Saturday, February 1, and has been operating non-stop
since then. Debris collection activities began at Barksdale Air Force
Base on Sunday, February 2. Yesterday, we began transporting debris on
trucks to the Kennedy Space Center where they will be assembled and
analyzed as part of the comprehensive accident investigation directed
by the Gehman Board. I visited Texas and Louisiana this past Saturday
to get my own assessment of the operation and to personally thank the
many volunteers who have worked so tirelessly to support the debris
recovery effort.
Space Shuttle Status
Let me touch briefly on the Space Shuttle fleet as it is today.
Discovery is continuing to undergo major inspections and upgrades
which will be completed by April of 2004. Atlantis is currently
assembled and stacked in the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy
Space Center for STS- 114. The Endeavor is in the Orbiter Processing
Facility and being prepared for STS-115.
The next Shuttle mission, STS-114, was to have been to the
International Space Station in March. That mission, commanded by Col.
Eileen Collins, U.S. Air Force, is on hold until we understand the
causes of the Columbia accident and are able to resolve any issues
identified. At this time we don't know how long it will be before we
can resume Shuttle flights. We will only know when the Columbia
Accident Investigation Board concludes its work and presents its
findings.
Columbia was the first Orbiter in the Shuttle fleet, having flown 28
successful missions or just over a quarter of its certified life of
100 flights. In February 2001, less than a year ago, Columbia
completed a major scheduled eighteen month overhaul and update of its
systems, a process we call Orbiter Major Modifications (OMM). The
STS-107 mission was Columbia's second flight following OMM and a
successful servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope in March
2002.
Prior to the loss of Columbia and her crew, the projected Shuttle
flight rate was five flights per year starting in FY 2004, and we have
requested funding for that flight rate in this budget. The flight rate
will be adjusted as needed once we determine when we can return to
flight.
International Space Station Status
The crew of the International Space Station is of course deeply
saddened by the loss of Columbia and her crew -- as are all of our
partners and people around the world. I spoke with International Space
Station crew members Ken Bowersox, Don Pettit, and Nikolai Budarin on
Saturday, February 1st to inform them of the accident and how we are
proceeding. Despite this tragedy, the crew is continuing its busy
schedule of work.
The day after the loss of STS-107, our Russian partners conducted a
successful launch of an unmanned, autonomous Progress resupply vehicle
to the Station. The provisions carried on Progress 10P should provide
the crew sufficient supplies to maintain normal operations through
June 2003.
Progress resupply flights to the International Space Station by our
Russian partner will continue as scheduled. The next Progress flight
is scheduled for June 8, 2003. We are working with the Russian
Aviation and Space Agency officials to determine what we want to place
on the flight to make sure we make the best use of the space
available. In addition, a regularly scheduled Soyuz crew transport
vehicle exchange is already planned for launch in April 2003.
Study teams formed almost immediately after the accident to assess the
impact on the International Space Station. These teams are focused on
how we will 1) sustain the Station, 2) continue to assemble the
Station, and 3) maximize the utilization of this unique research
platform. We have kept our International Space Station partners
informed of our recovery efforts. Further, we met with our
international partners last week and plan future meetings in the weeks
ahead to develop an International Space Station partner plan.
We can maintain a permanent crew on the International Space Station as
long as is necessary with support from Soyuz and Progress flights. The
International Space Station is stable and has sufficient propellant to
maintain its orbit for at least a year without support from the Space
Shuttle. A nearer term issue for crew support beyond June is water.
The International Space Station cannot support a crew of three after
June with the currently planned support from Progress. As a
consequence, we are discussing with our international partners the
possibility of changing the April Soyuz flight from a taxi mission to
a crew exchange mission as well as the feasibility of adding Progress
resupply flights.
I should emphasize however, that no decisions have been made and we
are examining all options. I have talked to the Expedition Six crew
now on-orbit and they have expressed determination and desire to do
what ever is necessary to continue their research and deal with any
changes in the crew rotation schedule that may be necessary.
Integrated Space Transportation Plan
As we look forward to determine our Nation's best course of action in
response to the Columbia accident, it is worth noting NASA's
Integrated Space Transportation Plan (ISTP), which was submitted by
the President to Congress in November as an amendment to the Fiscal
Year 2003 federal budget. The Integrated Space Transportation Plan can
help us address many of the near term issues we are facing, even
though it was developed prior to the loss of Columbia.
The Integrated Space Transportation Plan reflects the tight coupling
required across the Space Station, Space Shuttle, and Space Launch
Initiatives efforts. It is intended to ensure that necessary access to
the International Space Station can be supported for the foreseeable
future. It consists of three major programs: the Space Shuttle, the
Orbital Space Plane, and Next Generation Launch Technology.
-- The new plan makes investments to extend Shuttle's operational life
for continued safe operations.
-- The Orbital Space Plane is designed to provide a crew transfer
capability as early as possible to assure access to and from the
International Space Station.
-- The Next Generation Launch Technology Program funds next generation
reusable launch vehicle technology developments in areas such as
propulsion, structures, and operations.
-- The SLI will focus on the Orbital Space Plane and Next Generation
Launch Technology, including Third Generation RLV efforts.
The FY 2003 budget amendment also proposed adding funds to
International Space Station reserves to assure that we could
successfully reach the milestone of U.S. core complete and maintain
progress on long-lead items for enhanced research aboard the Space
Station.
Science and Research Objectives
Space flight is a means to an end and at NASA that end is research,
exploration, discovery and inspiration. The crew of STS-107 were
engaged in a wide array of scientific research that could be conducted
nowhere else but in space, and had significant potential benefits for
the public. Columbia's crew took great pride in their research aimed
at fighting cancer, improving crop yields, developing fire-suppression
techniques, building earthquake-resistant buildings, and understanding
the effects of dust storms on weather. As was written in the press,
"Columbia had a cargo of human ingenuity."
The crew of the International Space Station is also conducting
research now that can be conducted nowhere else. Thus far, more than
sixty experiments spanning across such scientific disciplines as human
physiology, genetics, plant biology, earth observations, physics, and
cell biology have been conducted on the International Space Station.
From these experiments scientists are learning better methods of drug
testing, and about dynamic models of human diseases, the physics of
fundamental processes in manufacturing, antibiotic synthesis, and
changes in Earth climate, vegetation, and crops.
The International Space Station is the centerpiece initiative of human
space flight at NASA. Our objectives in this regard are very clear.
First, we will keep our on-orbit International Space Station crew
safe. Second, we intend to keep the International Space Station
continuously occupied in order to assure the reliability of the
International Space Station itself. Third, we intend to return to
assembly as soon as we are able to return the shuttle fleet to safe
operations, and complete the research goals set for ourselves and our
international partners.
To accomplish these aims, we need to create a long-term crew return
capability to complement and augment the Soyuz vehicles now provided
by our Russian partners. We intend to build on that new return
capability to create a crew transfer system that will allow us to
rotate crews on the International Space Station independently from the
Space Shuttle.
We also firmly believe that extending the operational life of the
remaining Shuttle fleet is a good investment because it will help
maximize the science return from the International Space Station.
We designed our Integrated Space Transportation Plan (ISTP) to ensure
that we had the coordinated resources to exploit the unique research
environment of space and the International Space Station in the near,
mid-, and long-term. We thought the plan was a good one when we
proposed it and we believe that it is not only valid today but even
more compelling to pursue. While we believe the ISTP is a good plan,
we will reexamine it if necessary in light of investigation findings
on Columbia.
Moving Forward
Just over a week ago -- although it seems more like a lifetime -- the
President spoke eloquently and powerfully at the Johnson Space Center
in Houston, Texas. He said:
"The cause of exploration and discovery is not an option we choose; it
is a desire written in the human heart. We are that part of creation
which seeks to understand all creation. We find the best among us,
send them forth into unmapped darkness, and pray they will return.
They go in peace for all mankind, and all mankind is in their debt."
The noble purposes described in President Bush's words frames all that
we do and how we do it. These purposes drive our mission goals, which
are:
To understand and protect our home planet; To explore the Universe and
search for life;and, To inspire the next generation of explorers as
only NASA can.
And even while our nonstop work to recover from this terrible tragedy
and to continue safe operations on the International Space Station
will be our chief focus in the days ahead, the American people should
know that we will also press ahead with our other activities to
achieve these important goals.
This Centennial of Flight year we will be launching the Mars
Exploration Rovers, the Mars Express spacecraft, the Space InfraRed
Telescope Facility, and a number of Earth Science spacecraft and
instruments, as well as continuing our work to help improve aviation
security on behalf of our Homeland Defense.
In these activities and in all we do at NASA, we strive for unmatched
excellence. And when it comes to human space exploration, where
margins are razor thin, we know we are graded on a very harsh curve.
For us, ninety-six percent to ninety-nine percent is not an "A." One
hundred percent is the minimum passing grade.
Despite this harsh truth, we know the lesson from this terrible
accident is not to turn our backs on exploration simply because it is
hard or risky. As John Shedd wrote about the age of ocean exploration,
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for."
Human history teaches us that in exploration, after accidents like
this occur, we can learn from them and further reduce risk, although
we must honestly admit that risks can never be eliminated. And as
President John F. Kennedy said some 41 years ago, speaking about our
fledgling space program, "All great and honorable actions are
accompanied with great difficulties, and both must be enterprised and
overcome with answerable courage."
The immediate task before the Agency is clear. We will find the
problem that caused the loss of Columbia and its crew, we will fix it,
and we will return to flight operations that are as safe as humanly
possible in pursuit of knowledge. We have no preconceptions about what
the cause of failure was or what it will take to make sure it never
happens again. We have an independent accident investigation board of
truly outstanding and eminently qualified individuals and they, and
they alone, will determine the cause of the accident and its remedy --
no matter where it leads. We are ready and willing to support the
addition of any experts that Admiral Gehman deems necessary to the
effective conduct of the Board's investigations.
Part of my job as Administrator is to remind everyone of what NASA
does and what we are capable of doing. It's a responsibility I take
very seriously. At the same time that I am saddened beyond words for
the loss of the seven outstanding men and women of STS-107, I am also
very proud and humbled by the focus, dedication and professionalism of
the NASA family and all those throughout the country who are assisting
us in the recovery effort.
Today, February 12 is also the birthday of President Lincoln. And some
of his words, spoken for a very different purpose, have come to be in
my mind this past week:
"It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining
before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion
to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion."
We have an opportunity here and now to learn from this loss, and renew
the boundless spirit of exploration present at NASA's beginning. We
will do this by being accountable to the American people for our
failings and, we hope, credible and compelling in pursuit of research,
exploration, and inspiration for future generations.
Finally, during the 16-day STS-107 mission we had no indications that
would suggest a compromise to flight safety. The time it took me to
present this testimony is about the same amount of time that
transpired between when Mission Control first noticed anomalies in
temperature measurements and the accident.
I just paused for a few seconds. That's the same amount of time that
transpired from Mission Control's last communication with the crew and
our loss of signal with the heroic Columbia astronauts. May God bless
the crew of STS-107.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)