WIKIARCHIVES.SPACE

Retired Navy Admiral Harold W. Gehman Jr. (center, with briefcase), chairman of the Columbia Accident Board, is greeted by KSC Deputy Director James Kennedy after Gehman's arrival at the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility. At far left is Wayne Hale, manager of Space Shuttle Program Launch Integration. Gehman and other members of the board, disembarking behind him, are visiting sites at KSC to become familiar with the Shuttle launch process. The independent board is charged with determining what caused the destruction of the Space Shuttle Columbia and the loss of its seven-member crew on Feb. 1 during reentry.