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 1st, 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 19th, 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 worlds 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 22nd The Imation Team worked Saturday March 22nd through noon Tuesday March 25th The tape left Imation and was flown back to NASA at on Tuesday, March 25th

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 - Govt 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 tragedythe future of space travel will be made safer

Thank You