Paul Dimotakis: The Shuttle Fleet, Columbia, and Present and Future Space Access

This event was digitally recorded and is available for viewing on the Caltech Theater site.

Reliable and cost-effective space access is vital not only for military, communications, scientific and other possible purposes, but also because it responds to humanity's wanderlust and answers our need for exploration.

The second tragic accident by the Space Shuttle fleet brought home the fragility of our space-access technologies. Developed over 30 years ago, the Shuttle contributed new dimensions to space access. These come at a cost and risk, however, which we no longer find acceptable.

Dimotakis will discuss Columbia's fateful final mission and a little of Caltech's involvement in the analysis and accident investigation. Present and future alternatives for space access will also be considered.

Paul Dimotakis is the John K. Northrop Professor of Aeronautics and Professor of Applied Physics at Caltech.

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