WASHINGTON -- Retired space shuttle astronaut Richard Covey has been chosen by NASA to lead an outside panel of experts to evaluate NASAs safety procedures as it prepares to return its remaining shuttles safely to flight.
NASA Administrator Sean OKeefe, speaking Thursday at a breakfast sponsored by the Main Street Republicans Partnership, said that Covey, a veteran of four shuttle missions, will lead a diverse group of experts to "oversee and laugh test" NASAs compliance with recommendations from the independent Columbia Accident Investigation Board.
The board has been scrutinizing the cause of the Feb. 1 disaster that destroyed Columbia during its return to Earth and killed its crew of seven astronauts.
Covey, a former Air Force test pilot, was pilot aboard shuttle Discovery in 1988 during the first mission following the 1986 Challenger disaster. He later commanded Endeavour on its 1993 mission to repair the ailing Hubble Space Telescope.
Covey, OKeefe said, will report to Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas Stafford, who is leading a broader effort to evaluate NASAs return to flight plans. OKeefe said that the group is still being formed and that NASA will make a formal announcement soon.
OKeefe also said during the breakfast that he still expects the shuttle program to be able to resume flight operations late this year or in early 2004.
The extent of changes NASA must make to resume flying, he said, will depend largely on the recommendations of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.
NASA already is working on a return to flight plan, but the final decision that it is safe to fly again will depend on the Stafford-Covey groups assessment that NASA has fully complied with the investigation boards recommendations, he said.
"When they say we have complied, thats when we will fly," O'Keefe said.
The Columbia Accident Investigation Board is in the final weeks of its search for the cause of the accident and is preparing to move to Washington the week of June 1 to begin writing its report. Board officials have said they hope to be done with the report before Congress leaves for its August recess.
OKeefe said he was flying to Houston Thursday night to meet with the boards chairman, retired U.S. Navy Adm. Harold Gehman, for a preview of the boards next round of preliminary findings and recommendations.
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