The independent team investigating the fatal break-up of the Columbia space shuttle has blamed flawed practices at the US space agency for the disaster. In their final report, published on Tuesday, investigators concluded that long-standing flaws in the Nasa organisation were "as much a cause" of the tragedy as technical faults. It said that while the current space shuttle was not inherently unsafe, a number of mechanical changes should be made in order to ensure safety in the short term. "The board strongly believes that if these persistent, systemic flaws are not resolved, the scene is set for another accident," the report said. Columbia disintegrated as it re-entered the Earth's atmosphere on 1 February, killing its crew of seven astronauts. The report could have far-reaching implications for the future of Nasa's human space flight programme. It reaffirmed the conclusion that a breach of the heat shield caused the break-up. In July, following extensive simulation tests, the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) members said a piece of foam insulation hitting the shuttle's left wing had blown a hole in the panel. When the shuttle prepared to land, super hot gases would have penetrated the hole, causing it to disintegrate.
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