From the point of view of NASA, there is nothing more to add to the report of the Commission of Inquiry of the shuttle disaster "Columbia" (Chapter 6 and its applications) as to "what if" -stsenariya rescue crew STS-107. As you know, it was announced very clearly what should have been a very large number of well-known facts to then carry out the mission of salvation, or repair of Colombia.
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In conclusion, we respectfully refuse to give any interviews on this particular subject and refer you to the report CAIB for detailed analysis carried out during the investigation of the accident Colombia.
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Ultimately, the application D.13 this assumption, based on the research and all the information developed by the engineers who closely familiar with the program space shuttle mission. My story about the rescue of history is not intended to criticize or blame NASA for their actions, and I'm not trying to "hindsight" to reconsider the choice of making decision-makers, who now must live with the consequences in the form of graves because most of these decisions. Columbia and her crew almost exactly could not be saved without a lot of "ifs" to turn in their direction. I can tell the story of what might be the most awe-inspiring moment of all human space flight, but I'm too unskilled to argue outside report CAIB.
This is an amazing story, but it's just a story.
The long road home h5> It is unlikely that the space launch vehicles will ever be the same routine matter, as well as commercial airline flights - definitely, it will not happen during the lifetime of someone anybody who reads this. Scientists and engineers continue to work on the best opportunities, but if we want to continue to go into outer space, we must continue to take all the risks. B> i>
- The report of the Commission of Inquiry of the shuttle disaster "Colombia» i>
Return of flying at NASA took 907 days after the destruction of Columbia. STS-114 - Flight Discovery instead of Atlantis - up from Cape Canaveral July 26, 2005. I remember it very well - now as a not-so-junior system administrator, I watched helplessly as a substantial number of employees of Boeing looks at the countdown and launch video on NASA TV, scoring our local Internet channel. A little funny that it almost led to an attempt on the part of our management query delay takeoff (Boing office in Houston provided support for the shuttle, and some of these actions required to support an Internet connection). The launch was successful.
Starting with STS-114, none of the shuttle did not take off without saving the machine in standby mode. Such planned extra flights (numbered STS-3xx) called LON-mission , which means «Launch On Need» (< i> startup if necessary - approx. interpreter i>). In case of problems, the main shuttle mission, the crew had to make a rendezvous with the ISS and take refuge there for up to 50 days until the LON-shuttle would result in readiness for the flight to take them.
The only exception was the last mission to service the Hubble, STS-125. The height of the orbit and its inclination to the Hubble mission did absolutely incompatible with the possibility of an emergency meeting with the ISS in case of problems, so the plan was made salvation, partly based on the scheme of Atlantis / Columbia. Mission STS-125 LON duplicated STS-400 . Due to the fact that the option was not available to the ISS, Endeavour STS-400 from would have to be ready to run in a short time, and this has led to what is already a rare occasion to exclusive: два shuttle were fitted on LC-39 simultaneously
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Source: NASA / WikiMedia Commons i>
Neither mission LON never needed, and the shuttle program ended without other significant incidents. Beats breakaway foam were not eliminated, but the volume was increased postheating analysis of each shuttle. This is certainly actually what future manned space program will return to its NASA rightful place atop the spacecraft launches faster than if all remained in their places. Culture NASA continues to develop. It is impossible to say at this point whether all the lessons of Colombia have been studied in the agency.
I was here during the impact assessment and the return to flight, but all agency policy changes far beyond my competence. The single most vivid recollection was the memorial service after the destruction of Columbia.
February 4, 2003 h5> The path of exploration and discovery is not the choice that we did - it's destiny written in the human heart. We are that part of creation which tries to understand the very creation. We are looking for the best among us, send them forth to the unexplored darkness and pray for their return. They rest in peace for all mankind, and all mankind in their debt. B> i>
- President George W. Bush, in a letter personnel Johnson Space Center i>
We arrived at the Johnson Space Center around 9:30 am informed that the number of seats will be limited to the service, which will begin at noon. After a half-mile walk and security check, we took a seat in the center of the structure 16, lost among a sea of people. Platform and podium were far away at the other end of the grassy field, and we spent two and a half hours on my feet in an uncomfortable silence. After a long wait, Air Force One, accompanied by three F-15S, whirled on the descent to the airport Ellington Field. The crowd swelled to its maximum immediately after 11. At noon, without fanfare, President Bush and first lady Laura Bush have traveled together to their places on the platform. They held hands, that imprinted in my mind - even the most powerful man in the world, holding the hand of his wife.
After the prayers were the director of NASA and Chief Astronaut Corps. Both paid tribute to each individual astronaut and Head Covers obviously struggling with tears. The president walked to the podium next and spoke eloquently about the human spirit. Only close to the policy of the words left his mouth, were completely relevant - he said that the space program will continue. After that, he also talked about each astronaut personally, praising their courage and dedication.
Ship's bell rang seven times, according to the number of crew members of Colombia, and then 4 aircraft NASA T-38s flew in formation «Missing Man». The planes flew low and fast, zipping past us wedge less than a hundred meters above the ground.