GSC Update:

*CAIB (Columbia Accident Investigation Board)
Yesterday, the findings of the CAIB Board were released to the government and the general public (links on the side can give you more info). Summary: The CAIB is a group of technical specialists and government mediators whose purpose is to dig deeper into the Columbia disaster, similar to post- Challenger. The basic findings of the report state that the technical reason for the breakup of the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia over Texas was a puncture in the left wing near the wheel well, from a broken chunk of foam from the ET (External Tank). However, many causes contributed to this horrible accident, including the Government, general public, Congress, the President, and the command structure of NASA itself. NASA now faces a difficult mission- improve saftey and reliabilty, decrease cost, and increase awareness of the aging Space Shuttle fleet (the shuttle flew first back in the 1980s), without any increase in it's budget. Leadership will be stressed.