Ex-Nasa inspector accused of lying about Shuttle checks

A former Nasa inspector has been accused of lying about inspecting crucial parts on the space shuttle Discovery before and after the Columbia disaster that killed seven astronauts and grounded the entire orbiter fleet.

Billy T Thornton falsified records about 83 Discovery inspections over nine days from October 24, 2002, to May 14, 2003, according to a federal indictment unsealed yesterday. Nasa fired him in September last year.

The former National Aeronautics and Space Administration quality-assurance specialist was responsible for checking that contractors completed work on electronics and other components considered necessary for safe flight.

On December 13, 2002, Thornton was charged with signing off on 65 inspections of Discovery’s interior structure without entering the orbiter to check repairs by the civilian contractor, United Space Alliance.

Each was classified as a “criticality one” inspection. That means the part being inspected didn’t have a backup system and could destroy the shuttle and its crew if it failed.

Thornton, 54, declined to comment today. His lawyer, Kepler Funk, denied any wrongdoing by his client.

“Mr Thornton has been a long-standing employee up there and is known as a guy who dots his i’s and crosses his t’s,” Funk said.

“Mr Thornton considers working on the shuttle a privilege and an honour, not merely a job to go to every day.”

Thornton was charged with 83 counts of fraud involving space-vehicle parts. Each charge carries up to $500,000 (€406,000) in fines and 15 years in prison. Another 83 counts charge him with filing a false statement, and each carries up to five years in prison.

During his 15-year career, Thornton inspected the entire shuttle fleet.

The Columbia disintegrated upon re-entry February 1, 2003, killing all on board. Discovery is supposed to be the first shuttle to be launched since the disaster.

The independent board that investigated the Columbia accident did not find evidence poor quality inspections contributed to the tragedy.

But the board did suggest Nasa re-inspect many critical parts, and bolster inspections, especially at Kennedy Space Centre.

Since the allegations were made against Thornton, other inspectors have reviewed the areas he was responsible for, Nasa spokesman Bruce Buckingham said.

Thornton was supposed to inspect the work being done during the major maintenance overhaul for Discovery.

Agents of Nasa’s Inspector General’s Office arrested Thornton at his home on Monday. Arraignment was scheduled for Friday.

At Thornton’s first court appearance yesterday, Assistant US Attorney Bruce Hinshelwood told US Magistrate James G Glazebrook that Thornton rejected an offer several weeks ago to plead guilty to one count of fraud involving space-vehicle parts.