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NASA employee proposed `complete scrub` of web site
Washington, Aug 29: NASA braced quickly for the intense investigation into the Columbia disaster, according to newly disclosed e-mails that include one proposal by a mid-level employee at headquarters for a ``complete scrub`` of the agency`s safety office web site to remove outdated or wrong information.
Washington, Aug 29: NASA braced quickly for the
intense investigation into the Columbia disaster, according to
newly disclosed e-mails that include one proposal by a
mid-level employee at headquarters for a ``complete scrub'' of
the agency's safety office web site to remove outdated or
wrong information.
The employee, Wilson Harkins, warned such information could become "chum in the water to reporters and Congressmen."
``We wouldn't want to be sucker punched by someone based on something we have posted,'' Harkins wrote.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration records show that 18 routine documents were added to the web site since the February. One shuttle accident, that killed seven astronauts including India born Kalpana Chawla, and none was removed.
Spokeswoman Melissa Motichek said Harkins was trying to make sure the site was accurate and up-to-date.
The employee, Wilson Harkins, warned such information could become "chum in the water to reporters and Congressmen."
``We wouldn't want to be sucker punched by someone based on something we have posted,'' Harkins wrote.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration records show that 18 routine documents were added to the web site since the February. One shuttle accident, that killed seven astronauts including India born Kalpana Chawla, and none was removed.
Spokeswoman Melissa Motichek said Harkins was trying to make sure the site was accurate and up-to-date.
A former NASA investigator, Joseph Richard Gutheinz, said that in the aftermath of the shuttle accident it was inappropriate for NASA to suggest removing any documents until they were reviewed by investigator.
``Whenever you have an investigation, everything should freeze,'' said Gutheinz, who worked in NASA's inspector general office for 10 years. ``You don't get rid of anything. You have a duty to your country, to the NASA program and the investigation to allow them to see everything you have before you start tossing this stuff.''
Harkins' e-mail and other newly disclosed documents describe how NASA prepared for the investigation into the breakup of Columbia that killed all 7 astronauts aboard.
Bureau Report