NASA report details last moments of Columbia crew
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The seven shuttle astronauts who died were in an 'unsurvivable' situation. But the space agency cites several equipment flaws in the 2003 disaster.
Poor design of their pressure suits led the seven astronauts aboard the
Columbia space shuttle to black out almost immediately as the craft
started breaking apart during reentry in 2003, and they were probably
killed by the violent contortions, a NASA panel said Tuesday.
Other design flaws with seat belts, helmets and parachutes also could have caused their deaths if they had survived the depressurization and intense buffeting, the panel said in its final report on the incident.
Fixing the deficiencies would not have saved the astronauts because the accident -- occurring at high altitude and hypersonic speed -- was "unsurvivable," the report said. But such corrections could improve chances of survival in less serious accidents.
Even though parts of the report were redacted to protect the astronauts' families, it represents the most graphic and harrowing account of the crew's final moments.
Other design flaws with seat belts, helmets and parachutes also could have caused their deaths if they had survived the depressurization and intense buffeting, the panel said in its final report on the incident.
Fixing the deficiencies would not have saved the astronauts because the accident -- occurring at high altitude and hypersonic speed -- was "unsurvivable," the report said. But such corrections could improve chances of survival in less serious accidents.
Even though parts of the report were redacted to protect the astronauts' families, it represents the most graphic and harrowing account of the crew's final moments.
Space Shuttle Columbia crew, left to
right, front row, Rick Husband, Kalpana Chawla, William McCool, back
row, David Brown, Laurel Clark, Michael Anderson and Israeli astronaut
Ilan Ramon are shown in this undated crew photo. Associated Press
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