Proof That Being "Politically Correct" Places Lives @ Risk...

December 23, l997

STS-87 rolled to a stop; the mission was complete! That statement is true for the flight of the Columbia, however a new mission began when the wheels of the Columbia came to a stop:the post flight inspections. My division is responsible for the overall analysis of these inspections and we insure that all changes made, due to these inspections, do not affect other areas that may jeopardize the flight-worthiness of the shuttle. This division does not focus on one specific area, but analyzes all information and ensures that all aspects are kept in balance.Immediately after the Columbia rolled to a stop, the inspection crews began the process of the post flight inspection. As soon as the orbiter was approached, light spots in the tiles were observed indicating that there had been significant damage to the tiles.Damage numbering up to forty tiles is considered normal on each mission due to ice dropping off of the external tank (ET) and plume re-circulation causing this debris to impact with the tiles. But the extent of damage at the conclusion of this mission was not "normal.".....Three hundred and eight (308) hits were counted during the inspection, one hundred and thirty two (132) were greater than one inch. Some of the hits measured fifteen (15) inches long with depths measuring up to one and one-half (1 1/2) inches. Considering that the depth of the tile is two (2) inches, a 75% penetration depth had been reached.Over one hundred (100) tiles have been removed from Columbia because they were irreparable. The inspection revealed the damage, now the "detective process" began.....During the STS-87 mission, there was a change made on the external tank. Because of NASA's goal to use environmentally friendly products, a new method of "foaming" the external tank had been used for this mission and the STS-86 mission(no more freon based). It is suspected that large amounts of foam separated from the externaltank and impacted the orbiter......Click title for info...

Cyouincourt007 : I recongnize NASA's achievements but I feel that now in 2005 we should not be discussing a problem known since '97.....The Columbia tragedy was all the more reason to go back to the freon based foam until one that actually stay's together is made,tested and safety first approved.I'm not anti environment,I'm an avid outdoorsman and nature lover but I would not like our Astronauts lives or our future space plans placed at jeopardy because of freon.Wrapping icebergs in foil to stop them from melting and any such rediculous activities only make those who care about the environment look foolish and hurts the "cause" to promote a safer environment.People realizing that NASA bowed to pressure from environmental wackos, causing lives to be lost and other's now in limbo, is not a good thing for anyone.