Fact-Finding Plenary August 5 - 7, 2003 Kennedy Space Center Cape Canaveral, Florida KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. – Martin Wilson, with United Space Alliance, describes the Space Shuttle Orbiter’s Thermal Protection System to members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (RTFTG) during a tour of the Tile Shop on Aug. 6, 2003. Handling an insulation blanket are Dr. Kathryn Clark and former astronaut and Retired Air Force Col. Joe H. Engle of the task group. To Clark’s right is Richard O. Covey, former Space Shuttle commander, and task group co-chairman. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board recommendations. View Larger Photo KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. – On a tour of the Tile Shop, Aug. 6, 2003, members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (RTFTG) learn how Space Shuttle Thermal Protection System heat resistant tiles are made. From left are Martin Wilson, with United Space Alliance; former NASA astronaut and retired Army Col. James C. Adamson; Dr. Kathryn Clark; William Wegner; former astronaut and Task Group Co-Chairman Richard O. Covey; and former astronaut Joe H. Engle. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board recommendations. View Larger Photo KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. – Members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (RTFTG) tour the Orbiter Processing Facility Aug. 6, 2003. At left, back to camera, Fernando Santos, with NASA, and Paul Ogletree, with United Space Alliance, demonstrate how flash thermography is used to inspect the structure of Reinforced Carbon Carbon panels and establish a baseline on panels before flight. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board recommendations. View Larger Photo KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. – NASA worker Joy Huff, right, shows a leading edge subsystems (LESS) with tile bonded to it to members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (RTFTG). From left task group members are: Dr. Amy K. Donahue; David Lengyel, executive secretary; Dr. Kathryn Clark; Richard O. Covey, former Space Shuttle commander and task group co-chairman; and William Wegner. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board final recommendations. View Larger Photo KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. – Staff and members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group, from left, William Wegner; former astronaut and task group Co-Chairman Richard O. Covey; former astronaut and retired Army Col. James C. Adamson; and former astronaut and retired Air Force Col. Joe H. Engle, inspect a Space Shuttle Orbiter in the Orbiter Processing Facility during a tour of the Kennedy Space Center on Aug. 6, 2003. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. View Larger Photo KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Tom Roberts, a United Space Alliance structures engineer, right, explains a Reinforced Carbon-Carbon T-seal from the Space Shuttle Endeavour to members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task during a tour of the Orbiter Processing Facility on Aug. 6, 2003. Task group members, from left, are Co-Chairman Richard O. Covey; Dr. Kathryn Clark; former astronaut and retired Army Col. James C. Adamson; former astronaut and retired Air Force Col. Joe H. Engle; Willliam Wegner; and Dr. Amy K. Donahue. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. View Larger Photo KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Tom Roberts, a United Space Alliance structures engineer, foreground, briefs members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (RTFTG) on Reinforced Carbon-Carbon panels from the orbiter Endeavour during a tour of the Orbiter Processing Facility on Aug. 6, 2003. Task group members are, from left, Tom Tate; Dr. Richard Danzig; retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Ralph H. Jacobson; and Dr. Dan L. Crippen. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. View Larger Photo KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. – The Kennedy Space Center’s Charles G. Stevenson, right, briefs staff and members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (RTFTG) during a visit to the Columbia Debris Hangar at KSC on Aug. 5, 2003. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. View Larger Photo KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. – Space Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach, back to camera, answers questions from the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (RTFTG) during an Aug. 5, 2003 visit to the Columbia Debris Hangar at KSC. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. View Larger Photo KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. – Charles G. Stevenson of the Kennedy Space Center, foreground, briefs staff and members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (RTFTG) during an Aug. 5, 2003 visit to the Columbia Debris Hangar at KSC. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. View Larger Photo KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. – In the Columbia Debris Hangar, Space Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach, left, discusses Columbia accident reconstruction activities with the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (RTFTG). The group visited the Kennedy Space Center Aug. 5 – 7, 2003. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. View Larger Photo KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. – The Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (RTFTG) inspects debris in the Columbia Debris Hangar during an Aug. 5, 2003 visit. At right is the mock-up of the left wing that includes pieces of the leading edge recovered following the accident. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. View Larger Photo KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. – Staff and members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (RTFTG) visit the Columbia Debris Hangar at the Kennedy Space Center Aug. 5, 2003. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. View Larger Photo Back to Multimedia Privacy | Disclaimer | Accessibility