HOUSTON The Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) released today a master time line of events that documents the space planes plunge through the atmosphere and subsequent breakup.
Called "Rev 14 baseline", the document offers a detailed, second-by-by second look into the loss of Columbia. Trouble appears to have started earlier than investigators thought as the space plane began to feel peak heating high above the Earth. Just 26 seconds later, remote sensors on the vehicle indicate an "off-nominal external event."
The time line includes ground observations of some 15 pieces of debris falling away from the space plane during its reentry, then ending with the main body of the vehicle breaking up.
Some of the time line is reconstructed data, due to loss of telemetry signal. Analysts studying the data suggest that it appears that Columbias forward, mid, and aft fuselage, right wing, and right pod were still intact late into the overall disintegration of the craft.
Columbia accident: study budgets
More details regarding the time line and the status of the CAIB work is slated during a March 11 press briefing.
The updated time line of events is being reviewed by the CAIB. That independent group will try and relate it to other information now being assembled said Tyrone Woodyard, a CAIB spokesman.
The second of a series of CAIB public hearings will be held here March 17-18, likely focusing on the launch of Columbia, as well as prelaunch operations and processes, Woodyard told SPACE.com .
At present, Woodyard said, the CAIB is operating under a $10 million initial budget, with NASA budgeted to spend $40 million on delving into the root cause of the Columbia accident.
Issues framed for debate
Woodyard said the CAIB is dedicated to not only look into the loss of Columbia, but will put in context: Future shuttle missions; NASAs budget; management and leadership issues; the NASA culture; safety; and risk assessment abilities.
"All those things will be put in their proper context during the course of the investigation and the final report. They are not going to be answered by the Board. Theyll be put in terms that need to be debated by Congress, NASA, and the leadership but not necessarily by the Board," Woodyard said. "We will frame these issues for debate," he said.
The CAIB is now comprised of 13 members, a number that is not expected to grow, Woodyard said.
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