CAPE
CANAVERAL - NASA launched an investigation Monday into yet another shuttle
workplace accident: serious damage to a nearly half-million-dollar power controller
that routes electricity to critical orbiter systems.
The
incident, which occurred last week at a shuttle spare parts depot in Cape
Canaveral, followed a recent rash of accidents that have resulted in damage to
shuttle orbiters and the death of a construction worker.
Two other
investigation boards have met to determine the cause of two of those incidents
in hopes of preventing similar mishaps in the future.
The
estimated cost of replacing the power controller damaged last week would be
$452,710, according to a Kennedy Space Center mishap report. Investigators are
not yet certain whether replacement will be required.
"That
hasn't been determined," KSC spokeswoman Tracy Young said.
Less costly
repairs might be an option.
A
five-member board tapped to investigate the matter met for the first time
Monday.
The initial
mishap report said the damage occurred March 27 during an engineering
evaluation of the power controller. A power-input connector had been installed
backwards. That caused the flow of electricity to be reversed, damaging the
controller during testing.
The
controller is one of three used to route electricity from a shuttle's
power-generating fuel cells to orbiter systems. The devices are considered
critical during launch, flight, atmospheric re-entry and landing.
The mishap
followed a series of workplace accidents that prompted NASA last month to order
a safety standdown at KSC.
Dating back
to January, the incidents included a small fire at the KSC Vehicle Assembly
Building, damage to a 50-foot shuttle robot arm and the death of a construction
worker performing roof repairs.
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