U.S. orders 2 probes into shuttle tragedy.

Byline: Jon Hilkevitch

CHICAGO _ Unlike the initial probe of the Challenger disaster 17 years ago, this time NASA will not be on its own to investigate what caused the destruction of the space shuttle Columbia, officials said Saturday.

Two investigations _ one led by an independent panel, the other coordinated by NASA management _ were ordered by the Bush team within hours of the Columbia catastrophe.

The decision was reached after NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe conferred with Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, although officials said there was no evidence that terrorism, interference with radar or sabotage via cyberspace doomed Columbia.

After the Challenger disintegrated shortly after taking off Jan. 28, 1986, a presidential investigative panel concluded that poor management and communication at the space agency contributed to the disaster, which was traced to the failure of a rubber seal in a booster-rocket joint. It was determined that senior NASA officials had been told about problems with the rubber O-ring but failed to disclose all the evidence.

This time, specialists with expertise in vehicle structures, systems and accident reconstruction will be part of the independent team that will include representatives from the Air Force, Navy, ...