Shannon is emergency landing site for US space shuttles

NASA is authorised to use Shannon Airport as an emergency runway for space shuttles which experience engine failure, it has emerged.

The US space agency yesterday confirmed that the Co Clare runway is one of a number of emergency landing sites for the majority of shuttles which take off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

Mr Marty Lindy, a landing support officer with NASA at the Johnson Space Centre, Houston, Texas, said the runway could be used if a space shuttle suffered multiple engine failure late into its eight-minute ascent towards space.

"We have a wonderful relationship with Shannon," Mr Lindy said. "We call them before the launch, check on weather and ensure there isn't anything obstructing the runway.

"It fills an important role for us as an emergency landing site should a shuttle experience multiple engine loss late into the ascent."

Just one space shuttle has suffered engine failure, in 1985. However, the crew was able to continue its ascent into space.

Due to the speed at which a space shuttle travels - up to 17,000 m.p.h. - the options available when main engine failure occurs are limited.

They include a return to the launch site, a series of tight arrivals at selected runways on the east coast of the US, or a transatlantic landing.

Around six NASA shuttles take off from Florida each year. However, all shuttle flights have been suspended following the Columbia disaster in February this year. They are scheduled to resume in September 2004.

Only shuttles which require a "high-inclination" orbit, such as those flying to the international space station, could use Shannon as an emergency landing site. Others, such as those engaged in space exploration, take off at a different angle which allows them to use runways in the US for emergency landings.

Mr Lindy said the majority of shuttles will require a high-inclination orbit once flights resume next year. He said Shannon could continue to play a central role when the next generation of space shuttles, known as orbital space planes, are launched within the next decade.

The Irish Aviation Authority said that, in addition to Shannon's geographical suitability, its two-mile runway was the longest in the country.

Investigations into the Columbia disaster show it would not have been possible to abort the take-off midway through its ascent and attempt an emergency landing, as potential damage to the spacecraft was spotted after the craft had entered orbit.

Columbia's left wing was damaged 80 seconds after take-off at the start of a 16-day mission when a piece of foam insulation broke away from an external fuel tank and hit the wing's leading edge at high speed. The impact was captured on film, but no signs of damage were visible.

The seven crew were killed when the shuttle disintegrated as it re-entered the Earth's atmosphere.

However, a report by the independent Columbia Accident Investigation Board, set up within days of the February 1st loss of the shuttle, placed a large degree of blame on NASA.

It concluded that it had learned little in the years since the last fatal shuttle accident in 1986, when the Challenger was lost with all seven crew, according to the report.