News World Nasa deliberately kept Kalpana Chawla, other astronauts in dark about impending death

Nasa deliberately kept Kalpana Chawla, other astronauts in dark about impending death

London, Feb 2: A NASA employee has revealed how Mission Control decided 10 years ago not to reveal to Kalpana Chawla and six other astronauts that they were doomed to die on re-entry of the



There was no way to repair any suspected damage - the crew were far from the International Space Station and had no robotic arm for repairs. It would have taken too long to send up another shuttle to rescue them.

Wayne Hale, who went on to become space shuttle program manager, has written on his blog  about the fateful day.

Hale writes: 'After one of the MMTs (Mission Management Team) when possible damage to the orbiter was discussed, he (Flight Director Jon Harpold) gave me his opinion: ''You know, there is nothing we can do about damage to the TPS (Thermal Protection System).'

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