Investigation of the Challenger Accident (Volume 2): by National Aeronautics and Space Administration

By National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Book Id: WPLBN0000697065
Format Type: PDF eBook:
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Title:	Investigation of the Challenger Accident (Volume 2): by National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Author:	National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Government publications, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (U.S.), NASA reference publication
Collections:	Space and Aviation eDocuments Collection, NASA Publication Collection
Historic Publication Date:
Publisher:	National Aeronautics and Space Administration


Citation APA MLA Chicago And Space Administration, N. A. (n.d.). Investigation of the Challenger Accident (Volume 2). Retrieved from http://www.self.gutenberg.org/

Excerpt
Introduction: Mr. Chairman and Members o f the Committee. I am Doug Sargent, President of Lockheed Space Operations Company and Shuttle Processing Contract Program Manager. I welcome this opportunity to appear before you to discuss Lockheed's role in the Space Shuttle launch and landing processing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC). I will describe our responsibilities as the Shuttle Processing Contractor (SPC) and our relationships with NASA and their development contractors. My remarks will be responsive t o your request for information relevant to the Challenger accident. In addition, I want to tell you about some adverse occurrences we nave experienced and what we are doing to fix those problems. I also want to highlight for you some of our noteworthy achievements...

Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE I. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 11. SHUTTLE PROCESSING CONTRACT ORIENTATION . . . . . . . . 1 1. SPC Team Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2. Scope o f Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3. Operating Philosophy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 111. SHUTTLE PROCESSING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . 3 2. Relationships w i t h Development Contractors . . . . 5 1. TheFlow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3. Challenges o f Increasing F l i g h t Rates . . . . . . . 6 4. Safety and Q u a l i t y Assurance . . . . . . . . . . . 6 a. Safety Advisory Board . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 b. Designated V e r i f i e r Program . . . . . . . . . 7 5. Award Fee. * . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . a I V . ADVERSE OCCURRENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 1. O r b i t e r Processing F a c i l i t y Bridge/Bucket Mishap . 11 2. 17-inch L i q u i d Hydrogen Uisccrlnect Valve Slamming . 11 3. Solid Rocket Motor Segment L i f t i n g Mishap . . . . . 11 4. Overtime Problem . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 V. SPC ACHIEVEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 1. T r a n s i t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 2. Consolidation o f Support Functions . . . . . . . . 13 3. S t a t i o n i z i n g . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 4. Streamlining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 5. Personnel Development & Training . . . . . . . . . 14 6. Work Force Morale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 7. Accident Prevention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 8. I n c i d e n t / E r r o r Review Board . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 9. Achievements Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 V I . PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION REPORT FINDINGS RESPONSE . . . . 16 1. Commission Findings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 a. Missed Requirements . . . . . . . , . . . . . 17 b. Accidental Damage Reporting . . . . . . . . . c. Involvement o f Development Contractors . . . . IS d. OMRSD V i o l a t i o n s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 e. O r b i t e r Processing Paper . . . . . . . . . . . 18 f. S t r u c t u r a l Inspections . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 g. Designated V e r i f i e r s . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 h. Launch Pad 398 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 1 7 i