Imation Supports NASA on Space Shuttle Columbia Data Recovery

Transcription

1 Imation Supports NASA on Space Shuttle Columbia Data Recovery James A. Goins Imation Corporation 1 Imation Place, Oakdale, MN Phone: FAX: jagoins@imation.com Presented at the THIC Meeting STK Bldg 8 Auditorium 1 Storage Tek Dr Louisville CO July 22-23, 2003

2 Imation Supports NASA on Space Shuttle Columbia Data Recovery

3 Space Shuttle Columbia STS-107 Crew & Spacecraft Overview

4 STS-107 Mission Background STS-107 carried a diverse, seven-member crew The first Israeli astronaut 16-day science research mission Rick Husband, William McCool, Kalpana Chawla, David Brown, Mike Anderson, Laurel Clark, Ilan Ramon

5 Space Shuttle Columbia STS-107

6 Space Shuttle Columbia Incident Overview

7 Incident Background February 1 st, 2003, scheduled to touchdown at 9:16 a.m. EST NASA lost contact with Columbia at 8:59 EST (17 minutes before touchdown) The shuttle was traveling at 12,500 miles per hour (Mach 18) which is 6 times faster than a speeding bullet 203,000 feet above Earth (38.5 miles)

8 Radar Image Showing the Heat from Explosion

9 The STS-107 Debris Trail On Wednesday, March 19 th, The Space Shuttle Columbia OEX Data Recorder was found in a field in Texas.

10 About the OEX Data Recorder The OEX Data Recorder Operates only during launch and re-entry. Data can not be sent to ground by telemetry during these times.

11 Space Shuttle Columbia Data Recovery Project Overview

12 Why Was Imation Contacted Imation has a 50 year legacy in tape storage In 1953, Imation (then a part of 3M) developed the world s first commercially available computer magnetic tape in conjunction with IBM. Imation has a core competency in data storage media Imation has a longtime affiliation with NASA Imation was a member of the National Media Labs (NML) since 1985 Imation has the broadest range of expertise of any R&D team in the data storage world

13 Who Did Imation Work For? NASA CAIB (Columbia Accident Investigation Board) NTSB (National Transportation and Safety Board) All of us!

14 Imation Project Timeline Imation was contacted by NASA February 13th, to create a process and procedure for collecting and securing 1/2 magnetic tape found during the search for debris The OEX Recorder with 1 tape was located in a field in Texas on Wednesday, March 19 th The recorder was flown to Imation and arrived on Friday Evening, March 21 st Imation and NASA experts opened the tape drive case on Saturday, March 22 nd The Imation Team worked Saturday March 22 nd through noon Tuesday March 25 th The tape left Imation and was flown back to NASA at on Tuesday, March 25 th

15 OEX Data Recorder Arrived by Gulf Stream recorder was attended by two NASA mission specialists and two drive service engineers

16 Space Shuttle Columbia Data Recovery Team Overview

17 About the team Team composed of scientist and engineers Worked on other USG projects USAF, NASA and DOD Agencies Skill-sets of the team include: Recording R&D Technical Services Product Development Magnetic Head Scientist Formulation Scientist Analytical Scientist

18 The Imation Team Core Team: Todd Abrahamson - Senior Development Engineer Bob Frits - Manager, Contracts/Compliance Jim Goins - Technical Service, Magnetic Media Specialist Rich Jewett - Magnetic Head Scientist Dennis Lund - Product Development Test Technician John Sparks - Senior Staff Development Engineer Adjunct Support Pam Blonigen-Platz - Analytical Chemist Jim DePuydt - Analytical Laboratory Manager Steve Ebner - Media Formulation Scientist Melissa Iseminger FA/DA Analyst Timo Mahonen - Analytical Chemist Keith Schwartz - Gov t Sales & Operations Manager Bob Parham - Quantegy

19 Space Shuttle Columbia Data Recorder & Tape Overview

20 The OEX Data Recorder - Orbiter Experiment Support System

21 The OEX Data Recorder

22 The OEX Data Recorder

23 The OEX Data Recorder severe distortion to the bottom surface of the housing

24 Opening The Data Recorder

25 Removing the Data Recorder Cover by design, when power is lost the reel motors lock

26 Recorder Condition top flange bent downward

27 Recorder Condition note the position of the capstans and pinch rollers

28 Recorder Condition frame damaged when recorder was ripped away

29 Recorder Condition - Underside drive belts intact - note the tree chip!

30 Recorder Condition rain had entered the recorder and was still present in some areas

31 Recorder Condition desiccant spilled upon impact, dissolved & stained the tape

32 Recorder Condition the broken tape-end from the supply reel - stretched and severed

33 Recorder Condition severed tape-end from the take-up reel

34 Tape Condition - Top Reel stretched tape - in contact with capstans at impact

35 Tape Condition - Top Reel the top flange removed shows multitude of z-folds

36 Tape Condition - Top Reel desiccant entrapped in loose tape wraps

37 Tape Condition - Top Reel concerns about blocking had to be resolved

38 Tape Condition - Bottom Reel

39 Tape Condition - Bottom Reel the bottom flange is bent over the tape pack - edge damage?

40 Tape Condition - Bottom Reel end of tape brittle from fire damage

41 Space Shuttle Columbia Data Recovery Support Process Overview

42 About the Tape Recovery Process Visual Inspection Clean Stabilize Rewind

43 Visual Inspection

44 Evaluate Tape Condition

45 Evaluate Tape Condition multiple z-folds from air entrapment

46 Clean the Tape

47 Check for Structural Integrity all procedures had to be demonstrated and approved by NASA

48 Identify Recorded Signal It was determined that no data was on the supply reel. In fact, individual sensors could be identified as they went off-line and ceased recording until power loss.

49 Wind to a Stable Pack extra care taken to wipe tape surfaces and control wind tension

50 Completed & Ready For Packaging proper containers for transport were donated by team members

51 Boxed & Ready For Return Flight On The T38 The box containing the two reels in their cases would be strapped into the back seat of a T38 for transport to the NASA facility in Florida.

52 Return Flight On The T38 piloted by NASA astronaut

53 Space Shuttle Columbia Data Recovery Support Project Summary

54 Columbia Data Recovery Project Summary This was an Imation Team Effort, starting with support from the Imation executive team and running throughout the entire corporation

55 Columbia Data Recovery Project Summary Imation continues to prove that it is a good partner and corporate citizen to the US Government

56 Columbia Data Recovery Project Summary NASA was able to recover data from this tape that was within 2 seconds of the actual destruction of Columbia

57 Columbia Data Recovery Project Summary As a result of this effort, NASA was able to retrieve 15 seconds of data that was not available anywhere else - vital information that will be used to determine the root cause of the destruction

58 Columbia Data Recovery Project Summary This data showed that substantial damage had actually occurred 2-3 minutes prior to destruction

59 Columbia Data Recovery Project Summary The Astronauts did not die in vain, out of this tragedy the future of space travel will be made safer

60 Thank You