1、Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS21408Updated January 4, 2006NASAs Space Shuttle Program: TheColumbia Tragedy, the Discovery Mission,and the Future of the Shuttle name redactedResources, Science, and Industry Divisi
2、onSummaryOn August 9, 2005, the space shuttle Discovery successfully completed the first oftwo “Return to Flight” (RTF) missions STS-114. It was the first shuttle launch sincethe February 1, 2003, Columbia tragedy. NASA announced on July 27, 2005, the dayafter STS-114s launch, that a second RTF miss
3、ion would be indefinitely postponedbecause of a problem that occurred during Discoverys launch that is similar to what ledto the loss of Columbia. The next launch is currently expected some time in 2006. Thisreport discusses the Columbia tragedy, the Discovery mission, and issues for Congressregardi
4、ng the future of the shuttle. For more information, see CRS Issue Brief IB93062,Space Launce Vehicles: Government Activities, Commercial Competition, and SatelliteExports, by (name redacted). This is the final edition of this report. The Loss of the Space Shuttle ColumbiaThe space shuttle Columbia w
