NASA Administrator
Accepts Columbia Accident Report
Retired Admiral Harold Gehman (right) shakes hands
with NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe after delivering Columbia Accident Investigation
Board's report to NASA.
This morning, NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe received the report of the Columbia
Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) from the chairman, retired U.S. Navy Admiral
Harold Gehman. The following is a statement from the NASA Administrator regarding
the CAIB report.
"On the day of the Columbia tragedy, NASA committed to the families of STS-107's
crew that we would find the problems that caused this horrible accident, fix them,
and return to the exploration objectives their loved ones dedicated their lives
to. Today, we have completed the first phase of that important commitment.
"This morning, Admiral Hal Gehman presented the findings and recommendations of
the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. The members have established what they
believe to be the factors that contributed to the tragic loss of Columbia and
her courageous crew.
"I want to express NASA's appreciation for the Board's report, which is timely,
thorough, and direct. The efforts of all concerned with the investigation will
help NASA improve the Space Shuttle program, our management processes, and our
capability to safely return to flight.
"The findings and recommendations of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board
will serve as NASA's blueprint. We have accepted the findings and will comply
with the recommendations to the best of our ability. The Board has provided NASA
with an important road map, as we determine when we will be 'Fit to Fly' again.
"Due to the comprehensive, timely and open public communication displayed by the
Board throughout the investigative process, we already have begun to take action
on the earlier issued recommendations, and we intend to comply with the full range
of recommendations released today.
"Our 'Return to Flight' efforts are being led by NASA's Associate Administrator
for Space Flight, William Readdy, and our Associate Deputy Administrator for Technical
Programs, Dr. Michael Greenfield. They will work closely with the independent
Return to Flight Task Group, led by retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General
and former Apollo commander Thomas P. Stafford and former Space Shuttle commander
Richard O. Covey. The 'Stafford-Covey Task Group' will independently assess every
action NASA takes, as we return to flight operations.
"As an important step to change the culture of the agency, we have created the
NASA Engineering Safety Center (NESC) at the agency's Langley Research Center
in Hampton, Va., to provide comprehensive examination of all NASA programs and
projects. The NESC will provide a central location to coordinate and conduct robust
engineering and safety assessment across the entire agency. The NESC will play
a key role in ensuring we return to flight safely and sustain a high level of
engineering and safety excellence for every NASA program.
"The independent Columbia Accident Investigation Board performed an important
service for the Nation, for NASA, and for the dedicated families of Columbia's
crew. The Board members conducted a thorough and comprehensive review of the mission
and the entire Space Shuttle program. The Board's efforts to perform a timely
and a complete investigation into the technological, engineering, managerial,
and human aspects that contributed to the accident are nothing short of heroic
in nature. We are grateful for their dedication."
For information about NASA's return to flight efforts on the Internet, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov