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NASA Learned Its Lesson With Endeavour

Caution, elaborate tools mark dramatic shift from Columbia era

By Wesley Oliver, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 20, 2007 10:53 AM CDT

(Newser) – Endeavour faced the same problem that the ill-fated Columbia did, but NASA officials handled the two missions in dramatically different ways, marking a radical cultural shift at the space agency. Columbia’s shuttle suffered more damage from a flying piece of foam, but NASA still spent days using elaborate equipment to study the impact of Endeavour’s gouge.

“The comparison is night and day,” said one expert who served on Columbia’s review board. Management changes, the development of new tools, and a newfound respect for dissenting opinions have begun to repair the “broken safety culture” the board said hobbled NASA for years and helped doom Columbia.

[Images (5)]

[Videos (1)]

This image provided by NASA on Sunday, Aug. 19, 2007, shows Canadian astronaut Dave Williams during the final of four space walks on the international space station, Saturday, Aug. 18. Astronauts aboard... (Associated Press)

In this image provided by NASA, Canadian astronaut Dave Williams is seen during the final of four space walks on the international space station, Saturday, Aug. 18, 2007. Astronauts aboard the shuttle... (Associated Press)

In this image made available Thursday, Aug. 16, 2007 by NASA, Space Shuttle Endeavour, docked to the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station, is backdropped by a blue and white Earth during... (Associated Press)

In this image from NASA TV the crews of the international space station and shuttle Endeavour hold a news conference on the international space station, Friday, Aug. 17, 2007. Space station crew on the... (Associated Press)

In this image from NASA TV a view of the international space station is seen from shuttle Endeavour after undocking, Sunday, Aug. 19, 2007. (AP Photo/NASA TV) (Associated Press)

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Barbara Morgan, current Endeavor astronaut, and 1986 Challenger alternate watches the Challenger launch and disaster. (falconlem (YouTube))

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NASA Learned Its Lesson With Endeavour