Shuttle engineers may have made satellite imaging request
Posted: Fri, Mar 14, 2003, 8:36 AM ET (1336 GMT)
Several publications reported Thursday and Friday that NASA engineers and even one senior official requested spy satellite images of the shuttle Columbia while it was in orbit, only to have those requests refused or not acted upon. The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday that shuttle engineers asked shuttle program manager Ron Dittemore a few days after Columbia's launch to obtain satellite images of the shuttle to look for possible damage caused by the impact of foam or other debris during launch. Dittemore refused the request, according to published accounts, because he believed the satellite images would not provide any conclusive data. The media had previously reported that NASA officials had requested satellite imaging only to have those requests revoked by more senior officials, but the latest reports appear to refer to a separate account. However, a NASA spokesman told the Dallas Morning News Friday that not only did Dittemore not block a request, no formal request was filed. The Washington Post did report Friday that Bill Readdy, the NASA associate administrator for space flight, made an informal request to the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) late in Columbia's flight for images, but that NIMA was not able to act on that request in time because of the perceived low priority of the request compared to imaging of Iraq.
Several publications reported Thursday and Friday that NASA engineers and even one senior official requested spy satellite images of the shuttle Columbia while it was in orbit, only to have those requests refused or not acted upon. The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday that shuttle engineers asked shuttle program manager Ron Dittemore a few days after Columbia's launch to obtain satellite images of the shuttle to look for possible damage caused by the impact of foam or other debris during launch. Dittemore refused the request, according to published accounts, because he believed the satellite images would not provide any conclusive data. The media had previously reported that NASA officials had requested satellite imaging only to have those requests revoked by more senior officials, but the latest reports appear to refer to a separate account. However, a NASA spokesman told the Dallas Morning News Friday that not only did Dittemore not block a request, no formal request was filed. The Washington Post did report Friday that Bill Readdy, the NASA associate administrator for space flight, made an informal request to the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) late in Columbia's flight for images, but that NIMA was not able to act on that request in time because of the perceived low priority of the request compared to imaging of Iraq.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Retired Air Force officer nominated to be NASA deputy administrator
Posted: Sat, May 10 9:44 AM ET (1344 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, May 15
SpaceX sends up more Starlink satellites
UPI — 5:53 am ET (0953 GMT) Telstra just months away from offering satellite text messaging to Aussies via Starlink
Finder — 5:53 am ET (0953 GMT) Astronomer Dr. Sven Buder on galactic archaeology, Starlink and indigenous knowledge
SBS — 5:52 am ET (0952 GMT) Spire Global Selected for U.S. Space Force Contract with $237 Million Ceiling
Business Wire — 5:51 am ET (0951 GMT) More speculation on future of Space Command in Southern Colorado
KKTV Colorado Springs — 5:50 am ET (0950 GMT) |
