Glenn Mahone/Bob Jacobs<br />Headquarters, Washington August 26, 2003<br />(Phone: 358-1898/1600)<br /><br /><br />RELEASE: 03-276<br /><br /><br />NASA ADMINISTRATOR ACCEPTS COLUMBIA ACCIDENT REPORT<br /><br /><br /> This morning, NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe received <br />the report of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board <br />(CAIB) from the chairman, retired U.S. Navy Admiral Harold <br />Gehman. The following is a statement from the NASA <br />Administrator regarding the CAIB report.<br /><br /><br />"On the day of the Columbia tragedy, NASA committed to the <br />families of STS-107's crew that we would find the problems <br />that caused this horrible accident, fix them, and return to <br />the exploration objectives their loved ones dedicated their <br />lives to. Today, we have completed the first phase of that <br />important commitment.<br /><br /><br />"This morning, Admiral Hal Gehman presented the findings and <br />recommendations of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. <br />The members have established what they believe to be the <br />probable cause of the accident and the factors that <br />contributed to the tragic loss of Columbia and her courageous <br />crew.<br /><br /><br />"I want to express NASA's appreciation for the Board's <br />report, which is timely, thorough, and direct. The efforts of <br />all concerned with the investigation will help NASA improve <br />the Space Shuttle program, our management processes, and our <br />capability to safely return to flight.<br /><br /><br />"The findings and recommendations of the Columbia Accident <br />Investigation Board will serve as NASA's blueprint. We have <br />accepted the findings and will comply with the <br />recommendations to the best of our ability. The Board has <br />provided NASA with an important road map, as we determine <br />when we will be 'Fit to Fly' again.<br /><br /><br />"Due to the comprehensive, timely and open public <br />communication displayed by the Board throughout the <br />investigative process, we already have begun to take action <br />on the earlier issued recommendations, and we intend to <br />comply with the full range of recommendations released today.<br /><br /><br />"Our 'Return to Flight' efforts are being led by NASA's <br />Associate Administrator for Space Flight, William Readdy, and <br />our Associate Deputy Administrator for Technical Programs, <br />Dr. Michael Greenfield. They will work closely with the <br />independent Return to Flight Task Group, led by retired U.S. <br />Air Force Lieutenant General and former Apollo commander <br />Thomas P. Stafford and former Space Shuttle commander Richard <br />O. Covey. The 'Stafford-Covey Task Group' will independently <br />assess every action NASA takes, as we return to flight <br />operations. <br /><br /><br />"As an important step to change the culture of the agency, we <br />have created the NASA Engineering Safety Center (NESC) at the <br />agency's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., to provide <br />comprehensive examination of all NASA programs and projects. <br />The NESC will provide a central location to coordinate and <br />conduct robust engineering and safety assessment across the <br />entire agency. The NESC will play a key role in ensuring we <br />return to flight safely and sustain a high level of <br />engineering and safety excellence for every NASA program.<br /><br /><br />"The independent Columbia Accident Investigation Board <br />performed an important service for the Nation, for NASA, and <br />for the dedicated families of Columbia's crew. The Board <br />members conducted a thorough and comprehensive review of the <br />mission and the entire Space Shuttle program. The Board's <br />efforts to perform a timely and a complete investigation into <br />the technological, engineering, managerial, and human aspects <br />that contributed to the accident are nothing short of heroic <br />in nature. We are grateful for their dedication."<br /><br /><br />For information about NASA's return to flight efforts on the <br />Internet, visit:<br /><br /><br />http://www.nasa.gov<br /><br /><br />To review Columbia Accident Investigation Board <br />recommendations on the Internet, visit:<br /><br /><br />http://www.caib.us/news/report/default.html