National Aeronautics and Space Administration<br />Office of Inspector General<br />Washington, D.C. 20546<br /><br />August 15, 2003<br /><br />RELEASE 2003-050<br /><br />NASA INSPECTOR GENERAL ISSUES LETTER TO NASA ADMINISTATOR REGARDING <br />OBSERVATIONS ON THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE COLUMBIA ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION <br />BOARD<br /><br /> Today, NASA Inspector General Robert W. Cobb issued a letter to <br />Administrator Sean O'Keefe highlighting his observations on the <br />independence of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB). As <br />an observer to the CAIB activities, Inspector General Cobb focused his <br />efforts on whether the CAIB could address the challenging questions <br />associated with the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia in good faith <br />and without material impediments from organizational or personal <br />conflicts of interest. <br /><br />In his August 15, 2003, letter to Administrator Sean O'Keefe, Mr. Cobb <br />said, 'Although NASA policy and the CAIB's original charter contained <br />provisions that could have hindered an independent investigation, based <br />on my observations, I believe the CAIB, under Admiral Harold Gehman's <br />leadership, is and has been conducting its investigation independently <br />and without undue influence from NASA.'<br /><br />The Office of Inspector General has several audits and reviews planned <br />and underway regarding the CAIB's activities, the Agency's <br />implementation of the Board's findings and recommendations, and NASA's <br />return-to-flight activities. <br /><br />For more information on this release, please call Madeline Chulumovich, <br />Executive Officer, NASA Office of Inspector General at (202) 358-0615. <br />The August 15, 2003, letter 'Observations on the Independence of the <br />Columbia Accident Investigation Board' has been posted to the NASA <br />Office of Inspector General Web site at:<br /><br />http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/oig/hq/columbia081503.pdf<br /><br /> *** End ***<br /><br />Please do not contact NASA Office of Public Affairs for information on<br />Office of Inspector General releases.<br /><br />For additional information on the NASA Office of Inspector General,<br />including published reviews, audit reports, inspection/assessment reports,<br />press releases, and other publications, please access our web site at:<br />http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/oig/hq<br /><br />Report Crime, Fraud, Waste, Abuse, and Mismanagement to the NASA OIG<br />Hotline at: 800-424-9183, TDD 800-535-8134.