CONTENTSSECTION I: SPACE SHUTTLE SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS
OVERVIEW .............................................................................................................................. 1
RETURNING THE SPACE SHUTTLE TO FLIGHT ...................................................................................... 1
IMPROVEMENTS IN TECH EXCELLENCE, COMMUNICATIONS & DECISION-MAKING ............. 3
SPACE FLIGHT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL ................................................................................................. 3
RETURN TO FLIGHT TASK GROUP ........................................................................................................ 4
SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAM MISSION MANAGEMENT TEAM ................................................................. 5
NASA ENGINEERING AND SAFETY CENTER ........................................................................................... 8
RENEWED COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE............................................................................................ 9
SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING IMPROVEMENTS.................................................................... 11
REINFORCED CARBON-CARBON WING PANELS AND NOSE CAP ........................................................... 11
WING LEADING EDGE STRUCTURAL SUBSYSTEM ................................................................................ 12
RUDDER SPEED BRAKE ........................................................................................................................ 12
FOREIGN OBJECT DEBRIS.................................................................................................................... 14
CLOSEOUT PHOTOGRAPHY PROCESS .................................................................................................. 15
LAUNCH PAD GROUND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT ..................................................................................... 17
FIXED AND ROTATING SERVICE STRUCTURES..................................................................................... 17
UPPER HINGE COLUMN BEARING......................................................................................................... 18
GASEOUS OXYGEN VENT ARM.............................................................................................................. 18
GASEOUS HYDROGEN VENT ARM ......................................................................................................... 18
CRAWLER TRANSPORTER .................................................................................................................... 18
RECOGNIZING & ELIMINATING CRITICAL SHUTTLE DEBRIS SOURCES................................. 21
PREPARING THE EXTERNAL TANK ........................................................................................................ 21BIPOD REDESIGN ................................................................................................................................ 22
LIQUID HYDROGEN INTERTANK FLANGE .............................................................................................. 24
LIQUID OXYGEN FEEDLINE BELLOWS ................................................................................................... 24
PROTUBERANCE AIR LOAD RAMPS...................................................................................................... 25
ENHANCED IN-FLIGHT IMAGERY .......................................................................................................... 26
NON-DESTRUCTIVE EVALUATION ........................................................................................................ 26
July 2005 CONTENTS i