APFN
Space Shuttle Safety Moratorium
Tue Feb 4 16:05:28 2003
Space Shuttle Safety Moratorium
The space shuttle without crew escape modules is unsafe for human
transportation. There has never been a launch vehicle that has not had multiple
catastrophic failures. This requested moratorium is an instrument seeking to
correct this grave situation.
Request for Executive Order Limiting Space Shuttle Operations
August 25, 2002
Office of the President of the United States
Mr. George W. Bush
Subject: Executive Order for a Moratorium on Space Shuttle Flight
Mr. President,
I am a recently retired NASA aerospace engineer and it is my duty to inform you
that our space shuttle astronauts are in eminent danger. Your intervention is
required to prevent another catastrophic space shuttle accident. NASA management
and the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel have failed to respond to the growing
warning signs of another shuttle accident. Since 1999 the launch system has
experienced the following potential disastrous occurrences:
July 1999 - Space Shuttle Columbia delayed by hydrogen leak.
December 1999 - Space Shuttle Discovery was grounded with damaged wiring,
contaminated engine, dented fuel line, and paper work errors.
January 2000 - Space Shuttle Endeavor is delayed because of wiring and computer
failures.
March 2000 - Space Shuttle Atlantis main engine must be replaced because of
paperwork errors.
August 2000 - Inspection of Space Shuttle Columbia reveals 3,500 defects in
wiring. Wiring defects plague entire fleet.
October 2000 - The 100th flight of the space shuttle was delayed because of a
misplaced safety pin and concerns with the external tank.
April 2001 - NASA failed to keep adequate watch on safety operations of a major
contractor.
July 2002 - The inspector general reports that space shuttle safety program not
properly managed.
April 2002 - Hydrogen leak forces scrub of the Atlantis flight.
August 2002 - Shuttle launch system grounded after fuel line cracks are
discovered in all the fleet!
Mr. President, as you are painfully aware NASA management has been lacking for a
number of years. Unfortunately, your new NASA Administrator has failed to
recognize the eminent space shuttle danger and has accepted the consul of the
pre-existing NASA shuttle management. These managers still pursue a management
philosophy that has stagnated the safety upgrades efforts and perpetuates the
staggering launch costs.
The space shuttle or any space transportation vehicle without crew escape
modules will never be safe to transport humans. To incorporate crew escape
modules in the space shuttle requires that the piloting function be removed from
the vehicle. Unfortunately, the background of the shuttle management is that of
former flight controllers and astronauts. They have been trained to never trust
automated flight control systems. Therefore, they are adamantly opposed to
automation of the space shuttle. Efforts by NASA engineers and contractors to
automate the shuttles are met with stern rebukes and reprimands in some cases.
Mr. President, to prevent another shuttle disaster it is requested that an
Executive Order be issued that places a moratorium on space shuttle operations.
This moratorium must limit shuttle missions to flight crews that do not exceed
four members. The moratorium must remain in effect until crew escape modules can
be incorporated.
This moratorium will serve as a catalyst to kick-start the resisting NASA
management into action. The lives of our astronauts and the future of our space
program must not be ignored. The warning from the Thiokol engineer was ignored
and the Challenger exploded. The terrorist training warning from FBI agents was
ignored and we had the 9-11 disaster. When the next shuttle explodes...and
Murphys Law says it will, we can exclaim with pride a loud "YES!" as the crew
escape module carries our astronauts to safety... or if this moratorium is
ignored...we can watch in horror and shame as the astronauts face certain death.
Don A. Nelson
Retired NASA Aerospace Engineer
Reply from the President's OSTP: "I do not think that it is appropriate for
the President to issue a moratorium on Space Shuttle launches at this time" Dec.
4 2002.
http://www.nasaproblems.com/#Moritorium
This article was reprinted from a distributed
letter from APFN
