Investigators Find Another Potential Shuttle Problem

Shuttle investigators have found another potential problem that could damage future space shuttles during launch. When searching through radar data of the

Columbia

, the investigation board discovered that an 18 kilogram bolt connecting the shuttles boosters to its fuel tank flew off . There's no evidence that it actually hit the shuttle, but its potential damage to future missions could be catastrophic. Fragments of the bolt are supposed to be caught in a special cylinder to prevent exactly this kind of problem, but it appears that the capture device needs improvements.