Abstract
This paper analyzes Chapters 6 and 7 of the "Columbia Accident Investigation Board Report". Specifically, it discusses the issues that surfaceed about NASA and its organization and answers the question: If you were designing a new organization to change the core processes what would be your priorities for change? It examines how the National Air and Space Agency (NASA) ultimately is a business organization, just like any other, and how it faces the same funding issues, internal power struggles, and management concerns that any other business faces.

From the Paper
"The need for change in the organization is clear, and the priorities need to be established and followed. Clearly, the first priority should be either a general housecleaning in management, or at least a re-evaluation of the current management mission, and how it must contribute to change and safety, rather than deadlines and appearances. The second priority must be communication, because the communication streams are flawed, and it seems some staff are afraid to communicate concerns or problems. It also seems budgetary concerns are also a major issue with NASA. These concerns must be addressed, but they should never come ahead of Shuttle safety, and it seems from the start, they have."

Tags:nasa, communication, mission, challenger

Abstract
The research questions upon which the study is based ask whether or not NASA's organizational structure had an effect on the amount of communication effort expended during preparation for the Columbia shuttle's takeoff and whether it ultimately caused the demise of the shuttle and its passengers. Based on the review of the literature, this study answers the following research questions. Has NASA's organizational culture changed since the Challenger shuttle accident in 1986, which was largely the result of gaps in communication? What aspects of NASA as an agency may have been partially to blame for the Columbia accident? What do independent parties believe caused the accident? What must NASA do to improve the agency before sending more shuttles to space?

Statement of the Problem
Research Questions
Research Methodology and Importance
Literature Review
Research Issue #1
Research Issue #2
Research Issue #3
Research Issue #4
Research Issue #5
Research Issue #6
Research Issue #7
Research Issue #8
Research Summary
References

From the Paper
"After nearly seven months of investigation, the Board released a series of findings and recommendations aimed at significantly reducing the chances of further accidents. Their aim has been to improve shuttle safety by multiple means, not just by correcting the specific faults that caused the Columbia disaster. With this in mind, the Board conducted an investigation of what happened in Columbia, as well as what conditions allowed the accident to occur. During this process, the Board identified numerous factors, which they have grouped into three categories: physical failures that were directly responsible for Columbia's destruction; underlying weaknesses, revealed in NASA's organization and history, that may end in catastrophic failure; and additional observations made during the course of investigation."

Tags:space, challenger, communication

Abstract
This paper introduces and analyzes the topic of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. Specifically, it analyzes the accident that occurred on the morning of February 1, 2003 and discusses the events that led up to its occurrence. The paper then discusses what NASA learned from the Columbia disaster and the changes that it has implemented as a result.

From the Paper
"In conclusion, NASA learned much from the Columbia disaster, and they have implemented new flight techniques and safety checks that help ensure this type of accident does not happen again. However, the Columbia disaster indicates that communication and decision-making at NASA is sometime suspect, and that continues, even today, even though NASA has developed these new safety checks to help make sure disasters like Columbia do not happen again. While the communication techniques NASA officials use may come into question, ultimately, it is recognized that space travel, although we often take it for granted, is inherently dangerous. Astronauts know that, and so do their families. Every time we send another space shuttle into orbit, we face the possibility of disaster, it is that simple. Still, space travel has largely been safe, and it seems that NASA will continue to promote safe space travel into the future."

Tags:astronauts flight communication STS-107, Cape Canaveral

Abstract
This paper explains the history of NASA, starting with the Kennedy administration. It briefly explains the 'firsts' of space exploration: Apollo and Skylab. The writer then discusses the disasters of NASA: Challenger, Columbia, and some Mars missions. It looks at the accomplishments of NASA with technology and at home and ends with the future of NASA with George Bush's Space Boost plan and a conclusion.

From the Paper
"Human curiosity about space has been with man as far back as we can go. Native Americans made names for the constellations. Greece created Gods from them. The technology to get to space was just created in the past fifty years. Some consider Americans lucky to live in a nation, where man can touch the surface of the moon. This feat is mostly thanks to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and their advancements. However, recent polls have shown that interest for NASA is down the list of people's concerns, below crime, energy, and the environment for example. Interest has changed since the Kennedy administration, where shortly after, twelve men walked on the moon in a three and a half year period. NASA is still making advancements, however, in the areas of science, math, astrology, and it's new findings in space. Nevertheless, the public remembers Columbia and Challenger. They also know about the millions of tax dollars being spent each year. Because of this, does NASA have a future? Will it still be around in twenty years? Will our children and their children, still dream of becoming astronauts?"

Tags:future, program, space, states, united

Abstract
This paper examines and analyzes the shortages in organizational management that ultimately led to the Columbia space shuttle disaster. It focuses on the investigation following the disaster that showed how NASA's organizational problems contributed greatly to the shuttle's accident. No one single management mistake was responsible but rather it was the combined effect of many. Various problems related to organizational behavior at the basis of the Columbia space shuttle disaster are listed. Additionally, the paper lists various solutions and alternative solutions that would have averted the disaster. The paper concludes by stating that the failure of Columbia had been due to insufficient training of the seven astronauts, poor communications within the institution, insufficient funds, a far too complex organizational structure or an overconfident culture. This paper contains a figure.

Outline:
Case Summary
The Problem Issues
Alternative Solutions
Analysis of Alternative Solutions
The Final Solution
Concluding Remarks

From the Paper
"The case then moves on to identifying the problems and sub-problems. It explains that the reasons for an overzealous culture relied primarily on political forces, emerged from the Cold War 'battles' with the Soviet Union. Having won the competition by sending a man in space at the end of the 1960s, NASA gained the reputation of a winner who could do everything right and better than others. In time, it led them to pay less attention to details and reduce their efforts towards safety. Then, the government cut NASA expenditure, the funding for Space Shuttle Program being reduced by 40 percent. As a consequence then, the organization downsized 42 percent of its employees and outsourced key responsibilities, such as safety oversight. As a consequence, shuttles began to encounter functional difficulties - these were generally related to technological shortages and little was done to improve the organizational behavior at NASA."

Tags:astronauts, NASA, space shuttle program, training

Abstract
The paper discusses how the change in ethnic composition in the British Columbia population has not changed the basic framework of the province's political culture since the 1950s even as human rights have improved and ethnic discrimination has been mostly eliminated. The paper looks at how many other political, economic, and social factors have impacted British Columbia's political culture far more than changes in ethnic composition, primarily because of their impact on a higher percentage of the population, but also because human rights have improved and ethnic discrimination had been virtually eliminated. Ultimately, the paper shows how when an issue has been addressed and rectified in a political constituency, it no longer has much impact on the political culture of that constituency.

From the Paper
"The change in ethnic composition in the British Columbia population has not changed the basic framework of the province's political culture since the 1950s even as human rights have improved and ethnic discrimination has been mostly eliminated. Many other political, economic, and social factors have impacted British Columbia's political culture far more than changes in ethnic composition, primarily because of their impact on a higher percentage of the population, but also because human rights have improved..."

Tags:british, columbia, politics

Abstract
In this paper, the government of Columbia is analyzed and evaluated through its construction on the American model of democratic republican government. The writer discusses that although the Columbian government has two houses and a judicial branch, the power of the judicial branch far exceeds those powers given to the Senate and House.

From the Paper
This governmental study will analyze how the modern republican government of Columbia operates, as well as how elections have functioned within this South American country. By realizing the how branches of government are modeled after the United States, one can realize that this country is formed heavily on democratic principles. However, the practicality of this form of government has been influenced high levels of corruption in the elections that have been enacted since the election of President Alvaro Uribe Velez. In essence, the democratic government of Columbia offers a republican form of government in the modus operandi of the United States, but has varying levels of success in the practical matters of governing in modern times.

Tags:columbia, america, europe

Abstract
This paper discusses and evaluates the use of databases at the British Columbia Muslim Association. The author finds that more extensive use of databases could be implemented and combined with the association's Web site.

From the Paper
"The British Columbia Muslim Association (BCMA) is a largely volunteer organization that operates a central Web site with links to Islamic resources in the BC community. The Web site is currently undergoing ..."

Tags:databases, british columbia muslim association, bcma, distributed databases, oracle

Abstract
The subject of this paper is Squamish, British Columbia.

Tags:squamish, british columbia

Abstract
The space shuttle program from inception has been challenged by trade-offs. Management at NASA is forced to make difficult decisions regarding schedule and budgets, and some of those decisions aren't proper from an engineering perspective. Due to budgetary constraints and a disconnect between management and sound engineering, the nation has experienced two shuttle tragedies: Challenger and Columbia. This paper attempts to explore the tradeoff and conflict between budget and safety.
Outline
Abstract
Bad Beginnings
Challenger
From Challenger to Columbia
Conclusions

From the Paper
"On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded 18 miles from its initial launch point at Kennedy Space Center, a mere 73 seconds into its tenth flight. Seen only by launch cameras, intermittent puffs of black smoke escaped the right solid rocket booster (SRB) from .678 until 2.733 seconds into the flight, stopping only to reemerge as a flame another 56 seconds later, and ultimately leading to the destruction of the orbiter. (NASA, 1986) All eight crew members of the Challenger were lost in the explosion and the eight-mile plummet into the Atlantic Ocean."

Tags:challenger, columbia, commision, feynmann, nasa, rogers