February 2003 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

Accident investigation board conference Tuesday
by Patrick Wiggins 13 Feb '03

13 Feb '03

COLUMBIA ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION BOARD PRESS CONFERENCE The Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) will conduct a press conference on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 3 p.m. EST. The press briefing will be at the Johnson Space Center (JSC), Houston. CAIB Chairman, retired Navy Admiral Harold W. "Hal" Gehman Jr., will be joined by other members of his investigative team. The press conference will be an opportunity to review with the recent investigatory activities of the CAIB. The press conference will be broadcast on NASA Television. Reporters may ask questions from selected NASA centers. NASA Television is broadcast on AMC-2, transponder 9C, C-Band, located at 85 degrees west longitude. The frequency is 3880.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical and audio is monaural at 6.8 MHz. Media wishing to attend the briefing must contact JSC for accreditation no later than 9 a.m. CST Tuesday, February 18. Accreditation requests, on the letterhead of the sponsoring media organization, should be faxed to the JSC newsroom at: 281/483-2000. For more information about NASA or the Columbia investigation on the Internet: www.nasa.gov

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Joint congressional hearing: Charter amended
by Patrick Wiggins 12 Feb '03

12 Feb '03

JOINT CONGRESSIONAL HEARING RESULTS IN SECOND CHARTER AMENDMENT FOR GEHMAN BOARD Based on the recommendations from congressional leaders at today's joint hearing into the Space Shuttle Columbia accident, NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe today issued a second amendment to the charter of the Space Shuttle Accident Investigation Board. The independent panel is led by Admiral Hal Gehman and is known as the Gehman Board. The changes to the charter removes any requirement, either real or perceived, that asks Admiral Gehman to coordinate or await approval from NASA for any dimension of the panel's investigation. Administrator Sean O'Keefe appeared before a joint committee hearing co-chaired by U.S. Senator John McCain, who chairs the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and U.S. Representative Sherwood Boehlert, who chairs the House Science Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics. At the hearing, Rep. Boehlert said, "The words of the charter simply do not guarantee the independence and latitude that both the Administrator and the Admiral have sincerely promised. The charter's words need to match everyone's intent now to avoid any problems later. I also continue to believe that several more members should be added to the Board to ensure that it has the appropriate breadth of experience and expertise." As a result of the recommendations, the Gehman Board charter was amended a second time. "I want to thank Rep. Boehlert and the rest of the congressional leadership for their insight and concern. There should be no doubt as to the independent nature of this investigative body," added Administrator O'Keefe. "NASA will do whatever it takes to ensure the integrity of the Gehman Board as it works to identify the cause of this horrific accident." A copy of the amended charter and the complete text of Administrator O'Keefe's opening statement are available on the Internet at www.nasa.gov/columbia/COL_resources.html.

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Columbia image
by Patrick Wiggins 12 Feb '03

12 Feb '03

This image is a view of the underside of Columbia during its entry from mission STS-107 on Feb. 1, 2003, as it passed by the Starfire Optical Range, Directed Energy Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland Air Force Base, N. M. The image was taken at approximately 7:57 a.m. CST (1357 GMT). This image was received by NASA as part of the Columbia accident investigation and is being analyzed. http://www.nasa.gov/columbia/COL_image_030207.html

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Yesterday's STS-107 update
by Patrick Wiggins 12 Feb '03

12 Feb '03

STS-107 Report #27 Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - 2 p.m. CST Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas STS-107 Mishap Response Status Report #1 Columbia debris recovery efforts continued today centered in areas of eastern Texas and western Louisiana. More than 1,600 recovered items are at Barksdale Air Force Base, Shreveport, La. Barksdale is the central field collection point for debris being shipped to the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Fla., to begin Shuttle Columbia reconstruction. In addition, more than 300 items are at each of the field collection sites in Lufkin, Palestine and San Augustine, Texas, awaiting shipment to Barksdale. A smaller volume is at Carswell Naval Air Station in Fort Worth, Texas. Shipments of debris from Barksdale AFB to KSC begin this week. Two truckloads of items departed Louisiana en-route to KSC today. No confirmed debris has been recovered west of the Fort Worth area. Teams continue to investigate reports from 27 states and eight jurisdictions outside of the U.S. Of 179 reports received from California, 105 have been closed. Of 162 reports in Arizona, eight have been closed. Of 12 reports in New Mexico, four have been closed. To assist recovery efforts, searchers are using Civil Air Patrol volunteers, airborne radar and other assets. U.S. Navy assets also may be used to search the waters of Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn reservoirs due to several eyewitness reports of debris entering those lakes. The search may continue for several weeks. Civil Air Patrol volunteers also are searching west of the Fort Worth area in regions along Columbia's flight path. Preliminary identification of some debris reported by the Mishap Investigation Team included a roughly two-foot square section of an external tank umbilical door, a hydrazine propellant tank and electronics equipment from the Ku-band communications system. The Ku-band communications debris was erroneously identified yesterday as one of Columbia's five flight control computers, known as General Purpose Computers (GPCs). No GPCs have been identified among recovered items. All identifications of items are preliminary. On the International Space Station, Expedition Six Commander Ken Bowersox, NASA Station Science Officer Don Pettit and Flight Engineer Nikolai Budarin took time out from unpacking items delivered by a Progress-10 Russian supply craft for their first news conference since the Columbia accident. The conference took place about three hours after the Progress' thrusters boosted the altitude of the station approximately 6.5 miles to an orbit of 240 x 255 miles. Bowersox said the crew first heard of the loss of Columbia from Johnson Space Center Director Jefferson Howell, and the crew is being kept apprised of the status of the accident investigation. "My first reaction was pure shock,"; Bowersox said. "I was numb, and it was hard to believe that what we were experiencing was really happening. And then as reality wore on, we were able to feel some sadness." Bowersox said Mission Control has reduced the crew's schedule to allow time for grief and reflection, and the crew was provided ample opportunity for communication with families for emotional support. "We've had time to grieve for our friends, and that was very important. When you're up here this long, you can't just bottle up your emotions and focus all of the time," Bowersox said. "It's important for us to acknowledge that the people on STS-107 were our friends, that we had a connection with them, and that we feel their loss, and each of us had a chance to shed some tears. But now, it's time to move forward and we're doing that slowly," he said. Bowersox and Pettit said they have told Mission Control they are willing to stay in orbit for a year or more if necessary, and they would consider the extra time a bonus, not a hardship. They said that if it were decided that a two-person crew should relieve them, that crew would be kept busy maintaining station systems but could still perform useful research. "There would be time to do some level of research, and by virtue of having people here, you are always doing research on your body itself, looking at the effects of long duration, weightlessness on the human physiology," Pettit said. "So it's important to keep people on Station. If we could continue to collect data and life science data in data sets for 10 or 15 year periods, it may actually turn out to be one of the more valuable data sets we get," he said. The Expedition Six crew will conduct additional interviews with ABC, CNN and NBC starting at 9:30 a.m. CST Wednesday. The interviews will be broadcast live on NASA Television. NASA TV is available on AMC-2, Transponder 9C, vertical polarization at 85 degrees west longitude, 3880 MHz, with audio at 6.8 MHz. For more information about NASA on the Internet: www.nasa.gov

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] Today's NASA Briefing
by Dale Hooper 12 Feb '03

12 Feb '03

Atypical was possibly a poor choice of words. The reentry track was certainly "normal" for the orbit it was in. What I was suggesting is that it is not very common for the shuttle to pass over Utah during reentry. I believe the last time was six years ago. I was simply curious to see if perhaps this "not very common" deorbit path possibly involved any steeper banking during deorbit (to line up with KSC) than other paths. However, from Brent's and Chuck's comments it sounds like this is not the case. > -----Original Message----- > From: Norm [mailto:norm@mtngreen.net] > Sent: Wednesday, February 12, 2003 11:09 AM > To: utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Today's NASA Briefing > > > What was atypical about this re-entry track? It appeared to > me to be normal > for the orbit the shuttle was in. > > Norm > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Dale Hooper" <Dale.Hooper(a)sdl.usu.edu> > To: <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Sent: Wednesday, February 12, 2003 9:32 AM > Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] Today's NASA Briefing > > > There is something that I have been really curious about that > I haven't seen > mentioned (please forgive me if I somehow just missed it). > We know that the > shuttle was following an atypical reentry track - because we > were able to > observe it over southern Utah. I'm wondering if this reentry profile > presents times when there are greater stresses on the orbiter > than a typical > reentry profile? I.e., more severe banking that might overly > stress an > already somewhat damaged wing; which wouldn't have caused a > failure in a > more typical reentry profile. > > Certainly, this wouldn't be a root cause - but might be a contributing > factor. Obviously, I've entered into second tier speculation. <g> > > > _______________________________________________ > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy >

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Shuttle update
by Patrick Wiggins 11 Feb '03

11 Feb '03

STS-107 Report #26 Monday, February 10, 2003 - 6 p.m. CST Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe reported today approximately 12,000 pieces of debris from the Space Shuttle Columbia have been collected along a 500-mile swath between Ft. Worth, Texas, and the Louisiana-Texas border. The debris is being tagged for identification and transported to the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Fla., for use in the on-going investigation. There is no primary or favorite theory as to what caused the Feb. 1 Shuttle accident. Fault-tree analysis and Probability Risk Assessments continue to be important tools to ensure no possible cause is overlooked. NASA's focus is on helping to determine the cause of the accident, finding solutions to the problems, and returning to safe flight operations as soon as possible. A section of reinforced carbon-carbon from the leading edge of a Shuttle wing was recovered. It is believed to be from the left wing. Teams continue to search for and collect debris. The first pieces of debris are expected to begin the 18-hour journey by truck from Barksdale AFB to KSC on Tuesday and arrive on Wednesday. Administrator O'Keefe said that NASA has done its best to be open and forthcoming with information about the accident investigation, and that it is time to transition that responsibility to the independent Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB). NASA will continue to release information periodically as appropriate as it becomes available. "We will defer to the CAIB to set the pace of discussions of how the investigation itself is progressing," O'Keefe said. He added that the Board will advise NASA when the data and hardware that has been impounded will be released for continued Shuttle operations. "We intend to fully support and ensure the Board has independence and objectivity to proceed as its members feel appropriate,"; Administrator O'Keefe said. "We will defer to the CAIB to set the pace of discussions of how the investigation is progressing." O'Keefe said that the NASA Inspector General has been an observer on the ground from the beginning, helping to ensure the independence and objectivity of the CAIB under the terms of the Inspector General Act. O'Keefe added that he intends to release the CAIB's recommendations to the public as soon as they are available. "It is our responsibility to make that informed judgment public," he said, explaining that the scope and breadth of the Board members' experience in aircraft and other types of accidents is more than NASA could bring to bear on the investigation. The CAIB will conduct its first press conference at 3 p.m. EST Tuesday, Feb. 11, in Teague Auditorium at the Johnson Space Center, Houston. Board Chairman Harold W. Gehman Jr., will introduce CAIB members and discuss Board structure, activities, and plans for the investigation. The Expedition 6 crew aboard the International Space Station continued to unpack supplies delivered aboard the Progress-10 resupply ship and to prepare for a 6:34 a.m. EST Tuesday re-boost of the station using the Progress thrusters. The re-boost will last about 22 minutes and increase the Station's orbit approximately 7 miles. Commander Ken Bowersox, Flight Engineer Nikolai Budarin and NASA Station Science Officer Don Pettit will field questions from reporters during a news conference starting at 9:34 a.m. EST, Tuesday. The news conference will be broadcast on NASA Television with two-way question and answer capability from reporters at NASA centers. While Shuttle missions are on indefinite hold, there is no urgency to adjust plans regarding the late April launch of a new Russian Soyuz TMA spacecraft or the makeup of its crew. Supplies on the Station are sufficient through June. There are enough propellants on board to maintain the Station's altitude and attitude for a year. Options are being considered with the International Partners to keep the station manned, safe and productive. "First we need to keep the crew safe," said Michael Kostelnik, Deputy Associate Administrator for International Space Station and Space Shuttle, "and second, is to keep the Station safe." NASA TV is available on AMC-2, Transponder 9C, vertical polarization at 85 degrees west longitude, 3880 MHz, with audio at 6.8 MHz. For more information about NASA on the Internet: www.nasa.gov -- Patrick Wiggins NASA Solar System Ambassador to Utah http://planet.state.ut.us 435.882.1209 (observatory) 801.918.9092 (cell)

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Kim's Mother
by Kim Hyatt 11 Feb '03

11 Feb '03

Many thanks to all who expressed their sympathy over the death of my Mom on February 2nd. I'm sorry that I cannot contact you all individually, but please know your kindness did not go unnoticed. I shared your regards with the rest of my family, and they, too wanted me to pass on their thanks for your thoughtfulness. The support of so many friends made this ordeal bearable. Thank you again. Kim A. Hyatt, AIA SL&A Architects 331 South Rio Grande, Suite 304 Salt Lake City, Utah 84101 801.322.5550 x122

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Columbia Accident Briefing Set
by Patrick Wiggins 10 Feb '03

10 Feb '03

The Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) will conduct its first press conference on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 3 p.m. EST. The press briefing is in the Teague auditorium at the Johnson Space Center, Houston. Board Chairman, retired Navy Admiral Harold W. Gehman Jr., and other board members, will discuss their activities to date, CAIB structure, and plans for the investigation. The press conference will be broadcast on NASA Television; reporters may ask questions form selected NASA centers. NASA Television is broadcast on AMC-2, transponder 9C, C-Band, located at 85 degrees west longitude. The frequency is 3880.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical and audio is monaural at 6.8 MHz. -- Patrick Wiggins NASA Solar System Ambassador to Utah http://planet.state.ut.us 435.882.1209 (observatory) 801.918.9092 (cell)

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NASA Statement about emails recieved from Columbia
by Patrick Wiggins 10 Feb '03

10 Feb '03

"I wanted to clarify a couple of facts reported recently regarding my brother, Dave Brown, a member of the Columbia STS 107 mission. Dave sent several personal emails during the mission, but at no time did he write about any concerns with damage to the left wing of the orbiter or any other safety issues. As they reached orbit, Dave took his planned photos of the external tank separation, which is standard procedure. These are the photos I discussed with Senator Allen. When I asked Dave at Christmas what he would want me to say if he didn't make it back, he said the program must go on. He said "I accepted this risk when I took the job, just as I did when I became a Naval aviator." Douglas Brown Feb. 6, 2003 David M. Brown was a captain in the U.S. Navy and was serving as a Mission Specialist on the space Shuttle Columbia. He was a naval aviator and a flight surgeon. STS-107 was his first space flight. For more information about NASA on the Internet: www.nasa.gov -- Patrick Wiggins NASA Solar System Ambassador to Utah http://planet.state.ut.us 435.882.1209 (observatory) 801.918.9092 (cell)

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] NASA phone call
by Wayne Reese 10 Feb '03

10 Feb '03

Jim, Have you compared what you have with mine at http://takeaflyingleap.org/eric/ ? I have not seen anyone else's but would like to here a comparison. Wayne -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-admin(a)mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-admin@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Jim Gibson Sent: Monday, February 10, 2003 7:47 AM To: utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com Subject: [Utah-astronomy] NASA phone call To all: To meet my wife is to meet a "gum shoe". She doesn't do it by profession but by nature. True to her super sleuth propensity she got a hold of Ron Dittemore's (NASA shuttle program manager) home phone number and called it. She expected to get an answering machine but to her surprise he answered the phone. He doesn't usually answer the phone these days because of people like us that have the audacity to bother him at home. He just happened to see the 801 prefix on the caller ID and thought it may have something to do with his son or daughter who are attending BYU. Because of my wife's loyalty to me, she thinks that the photo I happened to capture of the Columbia passing over is the key piece of evidence. Mr. Dittemore was very polite and after hearing of the photo asked us to email it to him right away. I quickly went out to gather previous post that I have made to this listing and tried to put together a coherent description of the possible event the photograph may have captured. I included the timing of the photograph, the location in both Lat & Lon as well as UTM coordinates as garnered from topozone.com. I included all four pictures as are posted on Patrick Wiggin's web site and the URL to Joe Bauman's, Deseret News article and sent them off. No more than ten minutes had passed when we received a call for Mr. Dittemore. He was very professional and wanted me to explain exactly what he was looking at. I mentioned that the camera was pointing straight up and gave him the orientation of the orbiter and a similar explanation of the event as has been posted here previously. The question of the event possibly portraying the door to the wheel well came up and he commented that the sensor data he had, indicated that the wheel well door remained latched. Then I suggested that because of the size of the signature that possibly part of the wing may have come off. I also mentioned that it is possible that the object may have been smaller than portrayed in the photo. If the object were bright enough and had excited only part of a pixel the whole pixel would have turned on thereby making the object appear larger that it really was. To me the signature looks almost as large as the orbiter signature. Preliminarily the photo supplied at least two good pieces of information. The timing was important and the fact that the signature of the object appeared to waffle indicating some aerodynamics. A team of experts had already begun to analyze a video taken in Flag Staff, Arizona to try and determine where the object captured in the video may have landed. Mr. Dittemore thinks that the video and the Leeds photo are the same event. The team could not tell from the video whether the object was a blob or whether the object had some aerodynamics which information they need to try and determine a fan of possible landing locations. The Leeds photo shows that aerodynamics are involved and will make the search that much broader. I mentioned that there are good people both in Utah and in Arizona that would volunteer to search for the object given possible sites to search. He took that information into consideration. My wife briefly mentioned that our daughter lives about a block away from his daughter just off BYU campus. All of a sudden he was much more exuberant. I felt like he would much rather talk about his children than anything else. Under the circumstances it would be nice if that were all we had to talk about. Jim _____ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! <http://rd.yahoo.com/mail/mailsig/*http:/mailplus.yahoo.com> Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now <http://rd.yahoo.com/mail/mailsig/*http:/mailplus.yahoo.com>

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