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Next > Better Re-Check Those Numbers Here is a lesson in how
placing total faith in computer simulations can be utter folly - and deadly! As
part of NASA's investigation into the shuttle Columbia's breakup over TX last winter,
Boeing, builder of the wing leading edge (LE) sections, presented simulations
proving that the dislodged chunk of main fuel tank
insulating foam that struck the LE could not possibly have compromised the structure
and therefore precipitate the disaster. Later, NASA engineers fired a similarly-sized
real chunk of foam at a real wing LE, and were shocked to witness the resulting
16" hole! Boeing's detailed report, complete with tables, graphs and charts from
their simulations, insists the hole isn't really there. |
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