Glenn Mahone/Bob Jacobs<br />Headquarters, Washington June 13, 2003<br />(202/358-1898/1600)<br /><br /><br />RELEASE: 03-196<br /><br /><br />FORMER APOLLO & SHUTTLE COMMANDERS LEAD COLUMBIA ACCIDENT <br />REPORT TASK FORCE<br /><br /><br /> NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe today said two veteran <br />astronauts, Apollo commander Thomas P. Stafford and Space <br />Shuttle commander Richard O. Covey, will lead a <br />distinguished task force to assess the agency's "Return to <br />Flight" efforts and help implement the findings of the <br />Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) when its final <br />report is released later this summer.<br /><br /><br />"The Stafford-Covey Task Force will aid NASA by assessing <br />the agency's return to flight plans for the Space Shuttle <br />and STS-114," said Administrator O'Keefe. "Both men have <br />rich backgrounds in technical engineering, safety, <br />management, and other areas vital in expediting NASA's <br />implementation of the Columbia Accident Investigation <br />Board's recommendations."<br /><br /><br />A retired Lieutenant General in the U.S. Air Force (USAF), <br />Stafford also chairs the NASA Advisory Council Task Force on <br />International Space Station Operational Readiness. He flew <br />four missions during the Gemini and Apollo programs. He <br />piloted Gemini VI (1965) and commanded Gemini IX (1966). He <br />traveled to the Moon as commander of Apollo 10 (1969). His <br />last mission was the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (1975), which <br />achieved the first rendezvous between American and Russian <br />spacecraft.<br /><br /><br />"General Stafford has spent his life advancing exploration <br />objectives," added Administrator O'Keefe. "He has served his <br />nation and NASA for more than five decades in a variety of <br />leadership positions. Heads of state from around the world, <br />federal agencies, and private industry have all aggressively <br />sought his counsel and stewardship. NASA is fortunate he's <br />agreed to accept this important assignment."<br /><br /><br />Covey is a retired USAF colonel and veteran Space Shuttle <br />commander. He served as pilot on STS-26 in 1988, the first <br />flight after the Challenger accident. He has more than 30 <br />years of aerospace experience in the private and public <br />sectors. <br /><br /><br />Covey is a highly decorated combat pilot and Outstanding <br />Graduate of the USAF Test Pilot School. During his 16-year <br />career with NASA, Covey piloted STS-51-I (1985) and <br />commanded Space Shuttle missions STS-38 (1990) and STS-61 <br />(1993), where he led the team that initially repaired and <br />restored the ailing Hubble Space Telescope.<br /><br /><br />"Dick flew the first Space Shuttle mission following <br />Challenger, so he has extensive experience with what it <br />takes to help the space program return to safe flight," said <br />Administrator O'Keefe. "There will always be risks <br />associated with space exploration, but we're going to do <br />what we can to mitigate those risks. Dick's experience will <br />help the entire NASA family overcome those hurdles in the <br />weeks and months to come."<br /><br /><br />The Stafford-Covey Task Force is made up of eminent experts <br />and industry professionals. They come from a wide range of <br />disciplines, with expertise in program management, <br />engineering, hardware integration, safety, and systems <br />evaluation. These initial members will oversee NASA's <br />implementation of the CAIB's recommendations. They will work <br />closely with NASA's Return to Flight team, led by Associate <br />Administrator of Space Flight William F. Readdy and <br />Associate Deputy Administrator for Technical Programs Dr. <br />Michael Greenfield. Additional members will be added to the <br />group throughout the implementation process.<br /><br /><br />Some of the members making up the highly honored panel <br />includes:<br />* Richard Danzig, an attorney and former Secretary of the <br />Navy (1998-2001) during the Clinton Administration. He also <br />previously served in the Carter Administration in the <br />Department of Defense<br />* Bill Anders, Apollo VIII astronaut, retired chairman/CEO <br />of General Dynamics, and former member of the Nuclear <br />Regulatory Commission.<br />* Ron Fogelman, retired General and former USAF Chief of <br />Staff, with 34 years active service<br />* Robert Sieck, member of the ASAP and aerospace <br />consultant. He is former Director of Space Shuttle <br />Processing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla. He served as <br />launch director for 52 Space Shuttle launches<br />* William Wegner, U.S. Naval Academy graduate in 1948 and <br />former deputy Director to Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, <br />considered the father of the nuclear Navy<br />* Dan Crippen, a veteran of Capitol Hill, former Director, <br />Congressional Budget Office, and Domestic Policy Advisor to <br />President Reagan<br />* Walter H. Cantrell retired U.S. Navy (USN) Rear Admiral <br />and member of NASA's Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP). <br />He's a former Commander, Space and Naval Warfare Systems <br />with a distinguished history of reviewing highly complex <br />technical programs<br /><br /><br />The latest list of task force Members is available on the <br />Internet at:<br /><br /><br />www.nasa.gov/news/highlights/return2flight.html