Cape Canaveral (Florida), Nov 25: NASA has said it estimates it will cost at least USD 280 million to carry out safety improvements for its space shuttle programme after the Columbia accident and it also released a summary of other recommendations it has received. Hundreds of suggestions have streamed into the US space agency, from both inside NASA and outside, ever since the first version of its return-to-flight plan came out two months ago.
Among them: shrink-wrap the external fuel tank. Insulate the tank on the inside rather than the outside to prevent chunks of foam from breaking off and striking the space shuttle, as happened with Columbia. Cover the edges of the shuttle wings with titanium. Add a second layer of reinforced carbon skin.
In the latest update yesterday, NASA summarised the suggestions and estimated it will cost USD 280 million to carry out all the safety recommendations from Columbia accident investigators. But the ultimate cost of getting the three remaining shuttles flying again will almost certainly be higher.
"This is obviously just our best estimate of return-to-flight costs," said NASA spokesman Allard Beutel.
Bureau Report