spacetoday.net: NASA agrees to accept CAIB recommendations

Posted: Wed, Aug 6, 2003, 10:52 AM ET (1452 GMT)
Key NASA officials said Tuesday that the agency will accept the recommendations that the Columbia Accident Investigation Board will publish with its final report later this month. Three top officials — deputy administrator Fred Gregory, associate administrator for spaceflight Bill Readdy, and associate administrator for safety Bryan O'Connor — told reporters at the Kennedy Space Center that the agency will not attempt to defend itself or argue with the CAIB’s recommendations. However, they wee less specific about plans to address issues with management of the program, notably the management philosophy or "NASA culture" that is part of the shuttle program. NASA is still planning to return the shuttle to flight in March of 2004, although that date will be dependent on the agency's ability to fulfill all the recommendations issued by the CAIB.