NASA's Space Shuttle Program: The Columbia Tragedy, the Discovery Mission, and the Future of the Shuttle

Abstract

On August 9, 2005, the space shuttle Discovery successfully completed the first of two "Return to Flight" (RTF) missions - STS-114. It was the first shuttle launch since the February 1, 2003, Columbia tragedy. NASA announced on July 27, 2005, the day after STS-114's launch, that a second RTF mission would be indefinitely postponed because of a problem that occurred during Discovery's launch that is similar to what led to the loss of Columbia. The next launch is currently expected some time in 2006. This report discusses the Columbia tragedy, the Discovery mission, and issues for Congress regarding the future of the shuttle. For more information, see CRS Issue Brief IB93062, Space Launce Vehicles: Government Activities, Commercial Competition, and Satellite Exports, by Marcia S. Smith. This is the final edition of this report.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 04, 2006
Accession Number
ADA456484

Entities

People

  • Marcia S. Smith

Organizations

  • Library of Congress

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accident Investigations
  • Accidents
  • Air Force Facilities
  • Aircrafts
  • Assembly
  • Carbon Carbon Composites
  • Congress
  • Cost Estimates
  • Earth Sciences
  • Space Flight
  • Space Sciences
  • Space Shuttles
  • Space Stations
  • Space Transportation
  • Spacecraft
  • United States
  • Vehicles

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering.
  • Defense Technology Research and Development.
  • Public Financial Management and Budgeting

Technology Areas

  • Space