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Feb.
13, 2003
Note: The CAIB has asked NASA
for administrative support to release information to the public and the
media. The following statement was provided by the CAIB for release.
Thermal Analysis Shows Hot Plasma Possible in Columbia Left Wheel
Well Area Preliminary analysis by a NASA working group this week indicates that
the temperature indications seen in Columbia's left wheel well during
entry would require the presence of plasma (super heated gas surrounding
the orbiter during re- entry). Heat transfer through the structure as from a missing tile would not
be sufficient to cause the temperature indications seen in the last
minutes of flight. Additional analysis is underway, looking at various scenarios in which
a breach of some type, allowing plasma into the wheel well area or elsewhere
in the wing, could occur. Other flight data including gear position indicators and drag information
does not support the scenario of an early deployment of the left gear.
The search continues for possible debris from Columbia in the western
U.S., but as of early Thursday, no debris further west than Ft. Worth,
Texas has been confirmed as Shuttle- related.
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