spacetoday.net: Panel closes more CAIB recommendations

Posted: Thu, Jun 9, 2005, 8:38 AM ET (1238 GMT)
STS-107: launch (NASA/KSC)

An independent panel said Wednesday that NASA has now met 12 of the 15 recommendations in the final report of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB). The Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group said Wednesday that NASA had closed out work on four additional recommendations, bringing the total completed by NASA from eight to 12. Three final recommendations not yet met by NASA deal with improving the resistance of the shuttle's thermal protection system to impact damage, eliminating hazardous debris shed by the external tank during launch, and inspecting the shuttle while in orbit. Those three, task force members said, could be met later this month after NASA completes a review of launch debris hazards. Task group members said they don't foresee any problems that would prevent a launch next month of the shuttle Discovery. the task group has an advisory role only; it will be up to NASA leadership to decide if the shuttle is safe enough to fly.