Sandia Labs helps NASA in shuttle crash cause
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) - From the serial explosions of the Unabomber to the crash of the space shuttle Columbia, Sandia National Laboratories has done its share of detective work.
With Columbia, a Sandia computer simulation showed the plausibility of a theory - regarded with skepticism while the shuttle was still airborne - that a piece of foam dislodged during the launch and damaged a wing.
Columbia broke apart Feb. 1 as it passed over Texas. Everybody aboard was killed.
As of last week's final report, Sandia scientists are finally allowed to talk about their contribution to the Columbia probe - and some others.
Sandia researchers say they traveled to NASA's Johnson Space Center two days after the accident, offering help. Within weeks, it became clear that Sandia's expertise in working with high-stress machinery would be of use. A team was assembled at Sandia's Albuquerque and California sites to help NASA.
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