Scathing Attack on Nasa 'flaws'

Another space shuttle disaster could occur if Nasa does not address its self-protective culture, which is schedule-driven, hampered by lack of funds and burdened by an insufficient safety programme, investigators into the destruction of the space shuttle Columbia said yesterday.

The Columbia accident investigation board's scathing report into February's tragedy, which killed seven astronauts, said little had changed at the Nasa since the 1986 Challenger crash. Its report said: "The board strongly believes that if these persistent, systemic flaws are not resolved the scene is set for another accident."

In the run-up to the loss of Columbia, Nasa mission managers routinely accepted as normal some flaws in the shuttle system, including the breakaway of foam insulation which fatally damaged Columbia's heat shield.

Investigators made 29 recommendations including some that the agency must make before it launches another flight. Some blame was also shifted to Congress and the White House, as Nasa lost 13% of its purchasing power from 1993 to 2002.