WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon today (Wednesday, February 12) again called upon the NASA administrator to make the space agency’s investigation into the Columbia shuttle’s disaster more independent and credible.
The message delivered to NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe was clear, bipartisan and unambiguous during today’s joint House-Senate hearing on the Columbia shuttle tragedy.
Gordon, ranking member of the House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, continued pressing O’Keefe on ensuring the independence of the accident investigation board, charged with searching for clues to the Columbia tragedy.
Gordon was joined by other House Democrats and Republicans, as well as Senators, on the panel in calling for the board’s complete independence from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
“My deep concern for a truly independent review process is a bipartisan call,” Gordon said. “We’re closer than we were a week ago, but we’re not there yet.”
“It’s time for NASA Administrator O’Keefe’s actions to match his words in freeing the Board from NASA control. O’Keefe needs to tear up the original NASA- dominated charter and create one that clearly sets in motion a truly independent investigation,” he added.
