Re: Columbia Accident Rport released

The seatbelt issues raise another issue which is that of Story
Musgrave doing the standing reentry. He would have became quite a
pinball in the cockpit. Even until minor turbulence situation could
have been catatrostrphic to the rest of the crew and vehicle.

I am partly through the report. So far, emphasis is on the fact that
none of the crew members had their pressure suits sealed (aka: helmets
not closed and/or gloves on locked on) and that they lost consciousness
very quickly.

This report has a number beginning 2008.

Is this really a recent investigation ? Or was this investigation done
alongside the CAIB report in 2003 and only released now ?

If it was done only now, how come it wasn't done right after the
columbia accident ? Seems to me that this was a very significant report
and much needed analysis of what happened to the crews.

NTSB and other national investigating bodies have no problems analysing
crew and passenger behaviour and causes of death in aircraft crashes.
Why would NASA try so hard to not analyse this and only years later
decide it might be worth looking into ?

Also, out of cursiosity: before launch, white room employees strap the
crews to their seats.  For re-entry, it is all self-service with each
crew member able to strap him/sherself in ? Or must one help another ?
In the later case, does this mean that the last guy is not fully
strapped in ?

Beore you go and read and see the morbid mass media news reports,
please go here and read the report for yourselves

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/298870main_SP-2008-565.pdf

THe reporters are already focusing on how the crew died. That is in
very poor taste.