Posted: Thu, Jul 31, 2003, 8:24 PM ET (0024 GMT)
A loss of hundreds of highly-trained engineers when Boeing moved offices two years ago may have played a role in the Columbia accident, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday. In 2001 Boeing shifted space shuttle engineering offices from California to Texas, but about 80% of the 500 employees in California refused to move, forcing Boeing to hire new employees, including many engineers, in Texas. The STS-107 mission was the first time the new Texas office has primary responsibility for the shuttle flight. Engineers who remained behind in California told the Times that they believe that they would have reached a different conclusion about the damage the foam impact caused to the shuttle, although their primary concern was about damage to foam, not the reinforced carbon-carbon leading edge panels. Boeing officials, while acknowledging that they did lose some experienced engineers in the move, say moving the office closer to the Johnson Space Center resulted in a stronger team.

Related Links:

•  Los Angeles Times article
•  Reuters article