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Columbia Accident Investigation Board Minutes of Open Meeting


Date of Meeting: TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2003
Time of Meeting: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

Location of Meeting:
Hilton Houston Clear Lake
3000 NASA Road One
Houston, Texas


Board Members Present:
Admiral Hal Gehman
Major General John Barry
Dr. Sheila Widnall
Mr. Steven B. Wallace
Dr. John Logsdon
Dr. Sally Ride
Dr. Douglas Osheroff


Board Staff Present:
Lt. Col. Tyrone Woodyard
Terry Williams
Patricia Brach
J. William Sikora


Other Government Employees Present in Their Official Capacity:
None


Members of the Public who Presented Oral or Written Statements:
Richard D. Blomberg, President, Dunlap and Associates, Inc.

Dan Bell, Thermal Protection System (TPS) Sub System Manager (SSM)for the Boeing company at Kennedy Space Center

Gary W. Grant, systems engineer in the Thermal Management group for the Boeing Company at the Kennedy Space Center


Matters Discussed:


The history of proposed Shuttle performance and safety upgrades.

Shuttle life extension options, including: Shuttle upgrade vs.
evolution of a Shuttle derivative vs. development of a replacement vehicle.

The safety record of the Shuttle in the context of its history as a
developmental manned space vehicle.

The need for up-front investment in order to prevent degradation of Shuttle safety.

Various proposed Shuttle safety improvements, including: upgraded general purpose computers, improved main engine health monitoring, electric auxiliary power units, full crew escape system, global positioning satellite navigation, predictive instrumentation, and adding a fifth segment to the solid rocket boosters.

The effect of privatization and the geographical relocation of contractor
Shuttle support workforce on Shuttle safety.

The history of debris hits on the Shuttle orbiter.


Matters Resolved at the Meeting:

None


Documents Received, Issued or Approved at the Meeting:

None



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