The Columbia Accident Investigation Board Final Report, Volume 1


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(4.4 stars; 8 reviews)

In 1981, Columbia became the first spacecraft of its type to fly in Earth orbit and successfully completed 27 missions over more than two decades. During the STS-107 mission, Columbia and its crew traveled more than six million miles in 16 days. The Orbiterʼs destruction, just 16 minutes before scheduled touchdown, shows that space flight is still far from routine. It involves a substantial element of risk, which must be recognized, but never accepted with resignation. The seven Columbia astronauts believed that the risk was worth the reward. The Board salutes their courage and dedicates this report to their memory. - Summary from the Board Report

Note: Volumes 2-6 are supporting documents and transcripts not included in this recording. (19 hr 3 min)

Chapters

Cover Explanation, In Memoriam, Board Statement 11:47 Read by MaryAnn
Executive Summary, Report Synopsis 22:54 Read by MaryAnn
An Introduction to the Space Shuttle, An Introduction to NASA 21:50 Read by Availle
Pt 1: The Accident Ch 1: The Evolution of the Space Shuttle Program 35:20 Read by Availle
Ch 2a: Columbia's Final Flight, part 1 32:27 Read by Maria Kasper
Ch 2b: Columbia's Final Flight, part 2 32:50 Read by Maria Kasper
Ch 2c: Columbia's Final Flight, part 3 29:21 Read by Maria Kasper
Mission Control Center Communications 20:44 Read by Roger Melin
Ch 3a: Accident Analysis, part 1 28:15 Read by Norman Elfer
Foam Fracture Under Hydrostatic Pressure 9:34 Read by Doug Sheppard
Ch 3b: Accident Analysis, part 2 20:57 Read by JudyDerby
Ch 3c: Accident Analysis, part 3 29:55 Read by Patrick McHaffie
Ch 3d: Accident Analysis, part 4 48:50 Read by Patrick McHaffie
Ch 3e: Accident Analysis, part 5 29:51 Read by Patrick McHaffie
Ch 3f: Accident Analysis, part 6 27:57 Read by Patrick McHaffie
Ch 4a: Other Factors Considered, part 1 29:55 Read by TriciaG
Ch 4b: Other Factors Considered, part 2 30:47 Read by TriciaG
Pt 2: Why the Accident Occurred, Ch 5a: From Challenger to Columbia, part 1 41:13 Read by Maria Kasper
Ch 5b: From Challenger to Columbia, part 2 34:13 Read by Maria Kasper
Ch 5c: From Challenger to Columbia, part 3 37:41 Read by Maria Kasper
Ch 6a: Decision Making at NASA, part 1 41:22 Read by Patrick McHaffie
Ch 6b: Decision Making at NASA, part 2 27:14 Read by Maria Kasper
Ch 6c: Decision Making at NASA, part 3 35:34 Read by Maria Kasper
Ch 6d: Decision Making at NASA, part 4 24:20 Read by Maria Kasper
Ch 6e: Decision Making at NASA, part 5 27:31 Read by Maria Kasper
Ch 6f: Decision Making at NASA, part 6 27:05 Read by Maria Kasper
Ch 6g: Decision Making at NASA, part 7 34:29 Read by Maria Kasper
Ch 6h: Decision Making at NASA, part 8 36:50 Read by Maria Kasper
Ch 6i: Decision Making at NASA, part 9 9:38 Read by Maria Kasper
Ch 7a: The Accident's Organizational Causes, part 1 35:01 Read by Norman Elfer
Ch 7b: The Accident's Organizational Causes, part 2 31:36 Read by Norman Elfer
Ch 7c: The Accident's Organizational Causes, part 3 41:09 Read by TriciaG
Ch 8a: History As Cause: Columbia and Challenger, part 1 28:46 Read by Richard Shipp
Ch 8b: History As Cause: Columbia and Challenger, part 2 34:50 Read by Richard Shipp
Pt 3: A Look Ahead, Ch 9: Implications for the Future of Human Space Flight 35:02 Read by TriciaG
Ch 10a: Other Significant Observations, part 1 33:07 Read by Mark Chulsky
Ch 10b: Other Significant Observations, part 2 49:47 Read by Mark Chulsky
Ch 11: Recommendations 13:26 Read by Doug Sheppard

Reviews

Absolutely riveting


(5 stars)

I love the way this report is laid out. I love the synopsis that tells you where each subject can be found. I listened to several chapters two or three times. The descriptions of the charts and diagrams are good enough to visualize the material in your head, although including images in the download would make this even better. It might be a bit too technical for a lot of people, but I am a forensic architect, not an aerospace engineer and I found the technical side quite easy to understand. I am a total fan of Maria Kasper. I just love her voice.

i wanted to like it


(0.5 stars)

but I have to listen to so much enterprise gobbledygook at work, it's just no fun to listen to it in my spare time.

Captivating


(5 stars)

Ignore guitarman's poor review. Just because you listen to garbage at work should not impact your review of this reading.