摘要: |
This final report is organized into an executive summary, six numbered sections, various appendices, and one annex. The Executive Summary provides an overview of the efforts by NASA toward implementing the return-to-flight recommendations of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) and a summary of the Task Groups assessments of each. Also included is an assessment of a raising the bar action that the Space Shuttle Program assigned to itself above and beyond the CAIB recommendations. The Executive Summary was delivered to the NASA Administrator and posted on the RTF TG website on June 28, 2005; however, the version contained herein has been slightly edited without affecting its content. Section 1 is a short, general introduction to the Space Shuttle Program and its current place in the Agencys long-term plans. Section 2 attempts to show the interrelationships among the various recommendations since, in many cases, the implementation and assessment crossed multiple CAIB recommendations. This section also contains an assessment from the Task Groups Integrated Vehicle Assessment Sub-Panel that cuts across several recommendations. Section 3 is the Task Groups formal assessment of each of the CAIB return-to-flight recommendations, in numerical order. First, the original language of the CAIB recommendation is provided, followed by the Task Groups interpretation of that recommendation. Next is any relevant background information that might assist the reader in understanding the recommendation. This is followed by an explanation of the steps NASA took to implement the recommendation. For the most part, the NASA implementation comes from NASAs Implementation Plan for Space Shuttle Return to Flight and Beyond, using whatever edition was current on the date the Task Group deliberated closing their assessment. Additional information from the closure packages submitted by NASA, requests for information, and fact-finding activities are also included as necessary to ensure an adequate description. This is followed by the Task Groups assessment of the Agencys progress up to the date of the deliberation, and the final status of the assessment. Observations and minority views, if any, regarding a particular recommendation follow the assessment. Section 4 describes open work the RTF TG will transition to the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) or other appropriate organizations. Section 5 introduces the Task Group, its function, the members, and the staff who supported it. Also discussed is the organization of the Task Group, a bit of its history and changes in personnel, policies, procedures, and processes, and a brief summary of the three interim reports issued by the Task Group prior to this final report. Section 6 provides a summary of the 11 plenary meetings of the Task Group. This gives a brief insight into the progress made along the way to this final report. Various appendices contain the charter, short biographies of the members, a list of the staff who supported the Task Group, dates of fact-finding activities, and an acronym list. Annex A contains a set of observations by individual Task Group members that are provided to assist the NASA Administrator in understanding any issues or other items they may have observed during the assessments. This section allows members of the Task Group an opportunity to make observations on safety or operational readiness as allowed by the RTF TG charter. |