The Hindu : Rescue effort risky but possible: NASA

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 26, 2003

International

International

Rescue effort risky but possible: NASA

WASHINGTON May 25. NASA has told investigators it would have been risky but possible to launch a rescue attempt to save the crew of the shuttle Columbia if the agency had known how badly damaged the orbiter was, the panel investigating the accident said.

NASA told the panel that a rescue attempt would have been ``technically possible, but very, very risky,'' an official said.

NASA could have sent up Columbia's sister shuttle, the Atlantis, and manoeuvred into position to try to transfer the astronauts from Columbia.

Columbia's crew would have had to stretch its resources to stay in orbit for as long as 30 days while NASA speeded up preparations for the launch of Atlantis, which was scheduled to lift off for another mission on March 1. — Reuters

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