The Computer Program that Analyzed the Shuttle Columbia

1
The Computer Program that Analyzed the Shuttle
Columbia

• Presented by Rachel Pottmeyer

2
What was the program (Crater) designed to do?

• The program was designed to evaluate the results
  of small pieces of foam on the insulating tiles
  of the space shuttle.
• The program was designed to over-estimate the
  damage. It was designed for the worst case.

3
What did NASA use the program for?

• NASA used the program to determine how much
  damage was caused by the foam.
• NASA also treated the program as a huge
  over-estimation.

4
How did this result is the crash?

• Foam comes into the contact with the insulating
  tiles on every mission.
• The foam that hit the tiles on the mission was
  much larger than previous missions.
• The effects of the foam on the tiles was
  underestimated.

5
Was the program at fault or was NASA at fault?

• The scientists should have considered the results
  of the program more seriously.
• The programs was designed as a warning of
  possible damage.

6
What could NASA had done to avoid a crash?

• Picture from nearby satellites or telescopes.
• Performed calculations based on the foam and the
  tiles.