Wed, Aug 27, 2003
The Columbia
Accident Investigation Board's report, released yesterday, goes
into much detail about what happened to the shuttle, and just how
certain of the events that led to the break-up could have resulted
from the confluence of various events. Way down on page 192,
though, comes the meat of the matter:
"The evidence that supports the organizational causes also
led the Board to conclude that NASAs [sic] current organization,
which combines in the Shuttle Program all authority and
responsibility for schedule, cost, manifest, safety, technical
requirements, and waivers to technical requirements, is not an
effective check and balance to achieve safety and mission
assurance. Further, NASAs Office of Safety and Mission Assurance
does not have the independence and authority that the Board and
many outside reviews believe is necessary. Consequently, the Space
Shuttle Program does not consistently demonstrate the
characteristics of organizations that effectively manage high
risk."
Perspective:
NASA, in other words, isn't set up right, or running right. To
get anything to change at the Agency literally requires an Act of
Congress -- and, even considering all the comments about how not
everybody at NASA is a "rocket scientist," it's an absolute cinch
that Congress isn't full of them, either.
The entire report, of which just 100 hard copies were printed,
is available on line, where we suggest you go to do your research.
In the meantime, let us not forget what NASA has done, and
continues to do.
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