Report of the PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION
on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident
Volume 5 Index
Hearings of the Presidential
Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident: February 26,
1986 to May 2, 1986.
APRIL 3, 1986 SESSION
[1479] [Ref. 4/3-14]
Unresolved Issues or What Must Be Done To Achieve a Viable STS
Program. H. Hartsfield, April 2, 1986.
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
OR
WHAT MUST BE DONE TO
ACHIEVE
A VIABLE STS PROGRAM
H. Hartsfield
April 2,1986
[Ref. 4/3-15]
Unresolved Issues or What Must Be Done To Achieve a Viable STS
Program (continued).
- THE VIEWS EXPRESSED HERE ARE MY OWN
- THE GENERAL THRUST OF MY REMARKS ARE
SHARED BY ALMOST ALL IN THE ASTRONAUT OFFICE
[1480] [Ref. 4/3-16]
Unresolved Issues or What Must Be Done To Achieve a Viable STS
Program: Revalidate the Design.
REVALIDATE THE DESIGN
- DESIGN REQUIREMENTS
- ADEQUATE DEFINITION
- CONSISTENCY
- DOES AS-BUILT STS MEET
REQUIREMENTS?
- WAS DESIGN TESTED AGAINST
REQUIREMENTS?
- IF NOT, HOW WAS DESIGN
CERTIFIED?
- WAIVERS?
- WHAT ARE OPERATIONAL CONSTRAINTS?
[Ref. 4/3-17]
Unresolved Issues or What Must Be Done To Achieve a Viable STS
Program: Review High Criticality Items.
REVIEW HIGH CRITICALITY
ITEMS
- SOLICIT CONCERNS FROM ALL ELEMENTS
- REVIEW CRITICAL ITEMS LIST
- REVALIDATE
- ADD NEW ITEMS, IF ANY FOUND
- IDENTIFY AND PRIORITIZE
CONCERNS/FIXES
- FIX BEFORE FLY
- FIX AS SOON AS PRACTICAL
- HIGH LEVEL OF QUALITY CONTROL UNTIL
FIX
- ACCEPT RISK
[1481] [Ref. 4/3-18]
Unresolved Issues or What Must Be Done To Achieve a Viable STS
Program: Review Maintenance.
REVIEW MAINTENANCE
- REVIEW TURN AROUND REQUIREMENTS
- ADEQUATE PREFLIGHT CHECKOUT OF ALL
SYSTEMS
- CHECK REQUIREMENTS ON ALL HIGH
CRITICALITY ITEMS
- REVIEW TEST AND CHECKOUT PROCEDURES
- TRACEABLE TO REQUIREMENTS
- ESTABLISH METHOD OF VERIFYING HIGH
CRITICALITY ITEMS
- SPECIAL NOTATION IN PROCEDURES?
- NASA QUALITY CONTROL?
- REVIEW WAIVER MECHANISM
[Ref. 4/3-19]
Unresolved Issues or What Must Be Done To Achieve a Viable STS
Program: Review Operations.
REVIEW OPERATIONS
- FLIGHT RULES
- REVALIDATE RATIONALE
- MEASURE AGAINST CRITICAL ITEMS,
SYSTEMS
- RE-EVALUATE LAUNCH/ABORT RULES, LAUNCH
COMMIT CRITERIA
- TRAINING
- EVALUATE CREW WORKLOAD
- REVIEW TRAINING FLOWS
- REVIEW FACILITIES
- MISSION PLANNING MILESTONES
- FREEZE BASIC MISSION EARLY
- TIMELY DELIVERY OF MISSION PLANNING
PRODUCTS
- FREEZE MISSION CONTENT AT L-5
MONTHS
- CONCENTRATE ON FLIGHT CLOSE TO
LAUNCH
- DELIVER SOFTWARE ON TIME
- TRAINING CREW AND MCC
- SHELF LIFE
[1482] [Ref. 4/3-20]
Unresolved Issues or What Must Be Done To Achieve a Viable STS
Program: Review Operations (continued).
REVIEW OPERATIONS
(continued)
- COMMUNICATIONS
- INSURE ADEQUATE CHANNELS FOR PROBLEMS
TO SURFACE
- CHANNEL TO CREW
- SAFETY
- ESTABLISH INDEPENDENT SAFETY
PANEL
[1483] [Ref. 4/3-21]
Unresolved Issues or What Must Be Done To Achieve a Viable STS
Program: Establish Flight Rate.
ESTABLISH FLIGHT RATE
- FLIGHT RATE MUST BE ESTABLISHED ON
CAPABILITIES
- TEST AND CHECKOUT REQUIREMENTS
- RESOURCES
- FLIGHT RATE INCREASE BASED ON
- PROFICIENCY IN TEST AND CHECKOUT
- MORE RESOURCES
- NEW RELIABILITY HISTORY
[1484] [Ref. 4/3-22]
Unresolved Issues or What Must Be Done To Achieve a Viable STS
Program: Summary.
SUMMARY
- THE RIGHT THINGS ARE BEING DONE
- WE MUST CARRY THEM TO FRUITION
- NASA HAS SOME OF THE BEST PEOPLE IN THE
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY
- THESE SAME GOOD PEOPLE WILL MEET THE
CHALLENGE TO PUT US IN THE AIR AGAIN
BUT
WE MUST NOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE
ILLNESS
- DO NOT MAKE HASTY FIXES
- FIX THOSE THINGS WE MUST
- THOROUGHLY, RATIONALLY EVALUATE ALL
CHANGES
[Ref. 4/3-23]
Unresolved Issues or What Must Be Done To Achieve a Viable STS
Program: Final Thoughts.
FINAL THOUGHTS
WE MUST ACCEPT:
- THE STS IS NOT OPERATIONAL IN THE
TRADITIONAL SENSE
- TO THOSE WHO FLY IT, IT WILL NEVER BE
ROUTINE
- THE RISKS WILL ALWAYS BE HIGH
BUT WE SHOULD REMEMBER:
- THE SPACE SHUTTLE IS THE MOST FANTASTIC,
MAGNIFICENT FLYING MACHINE IN THE WORLD
- THE CAPABILITIES OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE ARE
UNMATCHED AND MUST BE EXPLOITED
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