KSC-03pd1628

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the RLV Hangar, a member of the Columbia Reconstruction Project Team (center front) talks to Adm. Harold Gehman, chairman of the Columbia Investigation Accident Board about the recovered tiles on the table. At her left is U.S. Representative Tom Feeney and behind her is U.S. Representative Dave Weldon, who accompanied Gehman and the board, who are visiting KSC as part of the ongoing investigation. Recovery efforts as of May 5 included 82,500 pieces of debris weighing 84,800 pounds, almost 40 percent of the total dry weight of the shuttle. About 25,000 personnel took part, utilizing almost 1.5 million total man-hours in the recovery effort and involving more than 130 federal, state and local agencies. The operation was also supported by more than 270 organizations that included businesses and volunteer groups.