# Columbia Crew Survival Investigation Report **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 5, 2010, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbia-crew-survival-investigation-report/527776 "2010-02-05T08:04:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mblocas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/67e7ee/32.png) [@mblocas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblocas)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbia-crew-survival-investigation-report/527776/1 "2010-02-05T08:04:29Z")
I recently read through the entire 400 page document. I noticed numerous redacted portions. Any idea when the un-redacted version will be available to the general public? ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbia-crew-survival-investigation-report/527776/2 "2010-02-05T14:28:40Z")
> [@mblocas](#): > > I recently read through the entire 400 page document. I noticed numerous redacted portions. Any idea when the un-redacted version will be available to the general public? What portions were redacted? Got a link? Was it [one of these?](http://caib.nasa.gov/) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbia-crew-survival-investigation-report/527776/3 "2010-02-05T15:56:56Z")
This might also be of interest, about the earlier _Challenger_ disaster: [Did the astronauts survive the Challenger explosion long enough to realize their plight? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/954/did-the-astronauts-survive-the-challenger-explosion-long-enough-to-realize-their-plight) ---
**Author:** ![mblocas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/67e7ee/32.png) [@mblocas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblocas)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbia-crew-survival-investigation-report/527776/4 "2010-02-07T11:32:33Z")
> [@Joe Frickin Friday](#): > > What portions were redacted? > > Got a link? Was it [one of these?](http://caib.nasa.gov/) Here is the link to Nasa’s reports webpage. I think it is the 3rd one down. It is the 16.2m pdf file. [http://www.nasa.gov/news/reports/index.html](http://www.nasa.gov/news/reports/index.html) There are several redacted portions throughout. I realize that it must have some details that would be unsettling to the families. I am just curious what the legal justification would be for redaction and if they will ever release an unredacted version. M ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbia-crew-survival-investigation-report/527776/5 "2010-02-07T17:33:33Z")
I would imagine that the redacted portions were primarily pictures of the remains of the crew, showing the damage that was being discussed in the text. The indications are that the crew was rendered unconscious pretty damn quick by the depressurization. However, the inclusion of this topic > [@](#): > > The final event with lethal potential was ground impact. > The ACES system provides protection from ground impact with a parachute system. The current parachute system requires manual action by a crew member to activate the opening sequence. makes me wonder if at least one of the crew survived the whole mess, only to be killed by ground impact because they were knocked out and couldn’t pull the rip cord, so to speak. \ ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbia-crew-survival-investigation-report/527776/6 "2010-02-07T18:09:20Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > The indications are that the crew was rendered unconscious pretty damn quick by the depressurization. However, the inclusion of this topic makes me wonder if at least one of the crew survived the whole mess, only to be killed by ground impact because they were knocked out and couldn’t pull the rip cord, so to speak. Didn’t happen. This is addressed on pages xix to xxv of the summary: > [@](#): > > The SCSIIT framed its analysis by attempting to identify all of the potentially lethal events that occurred during the mishap, including those that occurred after the crew was deceased.[snip] The SCSIIT used these data to identify all events with lethal potential (even those that occurred after the crew was deceased) during entry so that threats to crew survival could be described and methodically approached in future designs The report goes on to list five distinct events that posed a danger to the crew. Impact with the ground was number five. After number three, the breakup of the crew module, the report says: > [@](#): > > The breakup of the crew module and resultant exposure of the crew to entry conditions was an extremely significant event but was very difficult to characterize since many related events occurred in a short period of time. The consequences of exposure to entry conditions included traumatic injury related to seat restraints, high loads associated with deceleration due to a change in ballistic number, aerodynamic loads, and thermal events. **All crew were deceased before, or by the end of, this event**. [bolding mine] As **Clothahump** suggests, the redacted sections deal almost entirely with specific descriptions of injuries and the crew’s remains, including some autopsy details. They address this in their conclusion (4.3.1 Public release of information): > [@](#): > > Medically sensitive and personal debris and data should always be available to designated investigators but protected from release to preserve the privacy of the victims and their families. ---
**Author:** ![mblocas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/67e7ee/32.png) [@mblocas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblocas)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbia-crew-survival-investigation-report/527776/7 "2010-02-07T21:23:04Z")
> [@anson2995](#): > > As **Clothahump** suggests, the redacted sections deal almost entirely with specific descriptions of injuries and the crew’s remains, including some autopsy details. They address this in their conclusion (4.3.1 Public release of information): I understand. However, on page xxii in the introducation NASA says: “Human space flight is still in its infancy; spacecraft navigate narrow tracks of carefully computed ascent and entry trajectories with little allowable deviation. Until recently, it remained the province of a few governments. **As private industry and more countries join in this great enterprise, we must share findings that may help protect those who venture into space.** In the history of NASA, this approach has resulted in many improvements in crew survival. After the Apollo 1 fire, sweeping changes were made to spacecraft design and to the way crew rescue equipment was positioned and available at the launch pad. After the Challenger accident, a jettisonable hatch, personal oxygen systems, parachutes, rafts, and pressure suits were added to ascent and entry operations of the space shuttle.” It seems to me they state the purpose of this report is to share information so that future government/private space flight is safer. It seems this is in a direct contradiction with redacting some information. I am not wanting to see morbid photos of these astronauts. There are enough horrible pictures on the internet to fill a thousand lifetimes. I would, however, like to know why some conclusions were reached. Apparently someone felt the photos or information was relevant because it was put in the report.