NASA Investigation Pointing at Tank Foam in Columbia Demise

[tw]

Originally posted by Elspode
I would hate to be any of the guys who said that it was okay, let it land, the foam couldn't have done that much damage...

But there is the rub. No one said it was OK. Literally tens of requests from mutliple sources demanded more information because so many were so worried. But Dittemore (and maybe others) denied or canceled those requests - repeatedly.

I remember commentary from the Sensor officer who predicted what symptoms would be if the Shuttle were disintegrating. As the Shuttle was coming in, he was stating exactly what he said would happen upon failure. He said it in a calm voice - knowing full well what he might be reporting as he said it.

The point this investigation appears to be coming to is that, well, I have posted it often: 85% of all problems are directly traceable to top management.