Imation Supports NASA on Space Shuttle Columbia Data Recovery James A. Goins Imation Corporation 1 Imation Place, Oakdale, MN 55128 Phone: 651-704-3482 FAX: 651-704-5169 E-mail: jagoins@imation.com Presented at the THIC Meeting STK Bldg 8 Auditorium 1 Storage Tek Dr Louisville CO 80027-9451 July 22-23, 2003
Imation Supports NASA on Space Shuttle Columbia Data Recovery
Space Shuttle Columbia STS-107 Crew & Spacecraft Overview
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
Space Shuttle Columbia STS-107
Space Shuttle Columbia Incident Overview
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)
Radar Image Showing the Heat from Explosion
The STS-107 Debris Trail On Wednesday, March 19 th, The Space Shuttle Columbia OEX Data Recorder was found in a field in Texas.
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.
Space Shuttle Columbia Data Recovery Project Overview
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
Who Did Imation Work For? NASA CAIB (Columbia Accident Investigation Board) NTSB (National Transportation and Safety Board) All of us!
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
OEX Data Recorder Arrived by Gulf Stream recorder was attended by two NASA mission specialists and two drive service engineers
Space Shuttle Columbia Data Recovery Team Overview
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
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
Space Shuttle Columbia Data Recorder & Tape Overview
The OEX Data Recorder - Orbiter Experiment Support System
The OEX Data Recorder
The OEX Data Recorder
The OEX Data Recorder severe distortion to the bottom surface of the housing
Opening The Data Recorder
Removing the Data Recorder Cover by design, when power is lost the reel motors lock
Recorder Condition top flange bent downward
Recorder Condition note the position of the capstans and pinch rollers
Recorder Condition frame damaged when recorder was ripped away
Recorder Condition - Underside drive belts intact - note the tree chip!
Recorder Condition rain had entered the recorder and was still present in some areas
Recorder Condition desiccant spilled upon impact, dissolved & stained the tape
Recorder Condition the broken tape-end from the supply reel - stretched and severed
Recorder Condition severed tape-end from the take-up reel
Tape Condition - Top Reel stretched tape - in contact with capstans at impact
Tape Condition - Top Reel the top flange removed shows multitude of z-folds
Tape Condition - Top Reel desiccant entrapped in loose tape wraps
Tape Condition - Top Reel concerns about blocking had to be resolved
Tape Condition - Bottom Reel
Tape Condition - Bottom Reel the bottom flange is bent over the tape pack - edge damage?
Tape Condition - Bottom Reel end of tape brittle from fire damage
Space Shuttle Columbia Data Recovery Support Process Overview
About the Tape Recovery Process Visual Inspection Clean Stabilize Rewind
Visual Inspection
Evaluate Tape Condition
Evaluate Tape Condition multiple z-folds from air entrapment
Clean the Tape
Check for Structural Integrity all procedures had to be demonstrated and approved by NASA
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.
Wind to a Stable Pack extra care taken to wipe tape surfaces and control wind tension
Completed & Ready For Packaging proper containers for transport were donated by team members
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.
Return Flight On The T38 piloted by NASA astronaut
Space Shuttle Columbia Data Recovery Support Project Summary
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
Columbia Data Recovery Project Summary Imation continues to prove that it is a good partner and corporate citizen to the US Government
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
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
Columbia Data Recovery Project Summary This data showed that substantial damage had actually occurred 2-3 minutes prior to destruction
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
Thank You