Washington, June 14: Nasa`s prestigious image is being chipped away at by the Columbia accident investigation board, which has unearthed shortcomings so serious as to put astronauts` lives in potential danger. The board`s latest discovery, even if it is not directly related to the February 1 accident in which India-born Kalpana Chawla and six astronauts were killed on reentry, could keep the remaining three shuttles grounded longer than anticipated.
Thursday, investigators said pieces from exploding bolts that allow the external fuel tanks to separate from the booster rocket could strike the shuttle itself.
The problem threatens to push back Nasa`s countdown for a re-launch of shuttle missions. Nasa shuttle program boss Sean O`Keefe had hoped to return them to service in early 2004.
About two minutes after liftoff, the external tank runs out of fuel and must be jettisoned. The bolts explode, breaking into two pieces, each of which is to land in a bolt catcher designed to prevent it from striking the shuttle orbiter. However, the bolt catcher may not be up to the job.
"The bolt catcher is not as robust as we would want," chairman Harold Gehman said.
The board has already found that a few pounds of insulating foam that fell away from Columbia`s fuel tank on take-off led to the ship`s breakup February 1.
However, the board members said, the bolt problem is not linked to the Columbia accident.
Bureau Report