NASA News
Return to Flight
04.12.04 - Assessment and Plan for Organizational Culture Change at NASA - The report is based on review of existing information, an employee survey, and interviews and focus groups.
+ Print Version (5.2 Mb PDF)
04.08.04 - Rudder Speed Brake - The Space Shuttle's Rudder Speed Brake recently has become a high profile piece of equipment in NASA's Return to Flight efforts.
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+ View Photos of actuator gears: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
3.11.04 - Information on Cancellation of Hubble Servicing Mission - The Administrator outlines the reasons for cancelling the mission and discusses alternatives for keeping the telescope operating.
+ NASA White Paper (100 Kb PDF)
+ Letter from Adm. Gehman to Sen. Barbara Mikulski (775 Kb PDF)
+ Video: Administrator O'Keefe, Chief Scientist Grunsfeld discuss decision with Ed Bradley of "60 Minutes"
2.27.04 - Implementation Plan for International Space Station Continuing Flight - NASA releases an update to its plan demonstrating a commitment to implementing the recommendations of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, where applicable, to the International Space Station program.
02.19.04 - Shuttle Service Life Extension Program Summit II - Armed with the President's clear vision for the future of the Space Shuttle, some 400 representatives from government, the aerospace industry and academia meet in Galveston, Texas, to prioritize investments in NASA's Shuttle fleet. View presentations by Dr. Michael Greenfield, Associate Deputy Administrator for Technical Programs, and Michael C. Kostelnik, Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Station and Space Shuttle Programs.
+ Kostelnik Presentation (2.1Mb PDF)
+ View More Documents on SLEP Summit Web site
02.09.04 - A Renewed Commitment to Excellence (Diaz Report) - Applying the Columbia Accident Investigation Board Report at NASA.
+ Read the Diaz Report (14.9Mb PDF)
02.05.04 - Revised Return to Flight Implementation Plan - This second revision to NASA's Implementation Plan for Space Shuttle Return to Flight and Beyond reflects our progress to date in responding to the recommendations and observations of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB), as well as additional actions initiated by the Space Shuttle Program.
This revision supercedes the first update of our Return To Flight Implementation Plan released on October 15, 2003, and includes formatting that indicates where changes and updates have been made to show progress since the plan was first released.
+ Read Revision 1.2 Changes Only (3Mb PDF)
01.28.04 - GMIP Independent Assessment Team - This group was chartered to assess the Government Mandatory Inspection Point (GMIP) policy and process for two of the five Space Shuttle Program elements, the Orbiter and External Tank.
11.20.03 - Return to Flight Implementation Plan Revision 1.1 - Revision 1.1 updates and provides additional information to the October 15, 2003 Revision 1 of NASA's Implementation Plan for Space Shuttle Return to Flight and Beyond. You can view the entire Revision 1.1 document with the appropriate pages included, or the updated pages as a stand-alone document.
+ Read Revision 1.1 changes only (PDF 560 Kb)
11.18.03 - Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel - NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe announces the nine new members and a new charter for the NASA Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP). "By recommitting ourselves to the original concept for the ASAP," O'Keefe said, "we believe a stronger, more focused advisory panel will benefit the entire agency well beyond our Return to Flight efforts."
+ View members' biographies (PDF; 254Kb)
11.06.03 - Implementation Plan for International Space Station Continuing Flight - NASA releases a new plan demonstrating a commitment to implementing the recommendations of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, where applicable, to the International Space Station program.
10.15.03 - Revised Return to Flight Implementation Plan - This first revision to NASA's Implementation Plan for Space Shuttle Return to Flight and Beyond reflects our progress to date in responding to the recommendations and observations of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB), as well as additional actions initiated by the Space Shuttle Program.
This revision supercedes the first iteration of our return to flight Implementation Plan released on September 8, 2003, and includes formatting that indicates where changes and updates have been made to show progress since the first Plan was released.
+ Read the Full Report (PDF; 19Mb)
09.16.03 - Return to Flight Media Workshop - A three-day workshop for media at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, provides a detailed look at return to flight, including briefings and hands-on demonstrations.
View workshop materials
09.08.03 - Return to Flight Implementation Plan - A periodically updated document demonstrating NASA's progess toward safe return to flight and implementation of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board's recommendations.
+ Read the Summary (PDF; 367 Kb)
+ Read the Full Report (15 Mb)
If you have ideas or suggestions for NASA's return to flight effort, contact us at rtfsuggestions@nasa.gov
05.5.03 - The Space Shuttle Program 2020 Assessment was a NASA effort commissioned in March 2002 to identify future investments required to safely and effectively fly Shuttle through the year 2020. The PDF file includes a summary and set of charts.
+ View Acrobat PDF (5 Mb)
03.14.03 - Press met with NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe and Associate Administrator for Space Flight Bill Readdy to discuss activities undertaken by NASA to ensure safe flight of the Space Shuttle fleet upon conclusion of the independent Columbia Accident Investigation Board.
+ View 03.14.03 transcript in Acrobat PDF (306 Kb)
+ View letter in Acrobat PDF (306 Kb)
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| Remembering STS-107 + View Columbia homepage | ||
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| Columbia Accident Investigation Board report + View Full Report + Volume 1 Only | ||
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| Problems with PDF files? + Download Adobe Reader + Download Internet Explorer | ||
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| NASA Engineering Safety Center + Visit the website | ||
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| Return to Flight Task Group External group will provide independent assessment of NASA's efforts. +View Web site | ||
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| Ideas for Return to Flight? Send in your suggestions. + Express Yourself | ||
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| President's Commission on Implementation of U.S. Space Exploration Policy A group to provide recommendations to the President and advise NASA on the long-term implementation of the President's vision. + View site | ||
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 Return to Flight Crew Visits Kennedy Astronauts check-out STS-114 flight hardware. + View this Video | ||
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 STS-114 Preflight Photos STS-114 crewmembers train for their upcoming Space Shuttle mission. + View | ||
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 Solid Rocket Booster Assembly at KSC + View feature | ||
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 A New Main Engine Space Shuttle Main Engine 2058 is the first to be built entirely at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. + View this Video | ||
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 Protection From Heat Beneath the orbiter's nose cap are several layers of special blankets. + View this Video | ||
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 Astronaut Training + View this interactive feature | ||
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