May 14 2003
From The Space Library
Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) Chairperson Harold W. Gehmen Jr. testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, that the safety office created at NASA in the aftermath of the Challenger explosion in 1986 had been “all but useless.” Gehman stated that serious conflicts of interest had “hamstrung the NASA engineering department that advises senior managers about shuttle safety.” He explained that the links of engineering specialists with NASA's Space Shuttle Program had apparently been too close to permit independent review of the condition of the orbiters. In addition, he said that NASA's Safety Organization lacked sufficient personnel. Gehman testified that, although NASA's Safety Organization appeared perfect on paper, the procedures lacked substance in reality. NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, who appeared at Gehman's side at the hearing, assured the Senate panel that NASA would hold its officials accountable, and that NASA would correct all faults in management that the CAIB identified. However, O'Keefe did not respond to Gehman's criticism of NASA's safety team. (Traci Watson, “Probe Slams NASA Safety,” USA Today, 15 May 2003; Nick Anderson, “NASA Is Chided for Faults in Safety Teams,” Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2003.
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