NASA Docks Contractor (United Space Alliance) $45.2 Million for Columbia

USA Today ^ | 1/23/04 | Traci Watson

[anymouse]

NASA penalized the contractor that maintains and operates the space shuttle fleet $45.2 million for its role in the shuttle Columbia accident, according to a letter NASA released Thursday.

The United Space Alliance, a partnership of Boeing and Lockheed Martin, had to forfeit the money even though NASA said the contractor did nothing specific to cause the accident.

[anymouse]

Another nail in USA's coffin.

[anymouse]

Space ping.

[zerosix]

You mean that there is another evil corporation out there that over-charges the U.S. Government (taxpayers) other than Cheney's?

[.cnI redruM]

If you mean United Space Alliance, let's hope so. They remind me of a bad US Army Program Office that keeps putting out garbage and saying. "You have to buy it. You're anti-American if you don't buy it. Never mind the fact that it blows up and kills all the soldiers who use it. You have to buy American first."

[BoilermakerCAengineerguy]

I received a job offer from USA 7 or 8 years ago... I'm glad I didn't accept it...!

[semaj]

Who instigated the change in adhesive requirements to a more environmentally friendly mixture which resulted in more of the foam separating during launch? I believe it was Joe Farah (WorldnetDaily.Com) who did a couple of articles regarding this matter.

Some enviro-weenie thought it would be a good idea to change the mixture of the foam which lead to more and bigger chunks falling off. The real crime is that this fact of increased risk was brought to the attention of NASA supervisors several years ago.