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The Board concluded the probable cause for this accident was structural failure of the spacecraft due to plume heating during the embedded solid-rocket motor burn.
However, the lack of telemetry and observational data, immediately prior to and during the burn, and the lack of recoverable debris, leave open the possibility that one of several other problems could have led to the accident.
The alternate possible causes for the catastrophic failure include malfunction of the solid rocket motor, collision with space debris or Meteoroids, and loss of dynamic control of the spacecraft.
NASA was unable to re-establish contact with the spacecraft on 15 August 2002, following a propulsive manoeuvre involving the solid rocket motor. On 22August, 2002, the Associate Administrator for Space Science established the NASA CONTOUR Mishap Investigation Board. The purpose of the Board was to
examine the processes, data and actions surrounding the events of 15August, to search for proximate and root causes, and develop recommendations that may be applicable to future missions.
Based on various facts and data, the investigation board concluded the alternate possible causes were less likely than the identified proximate cause. Nonetheless, in the spirit of constructively improving future mission reliability, the Board drew conclusions, identified lessons learned, and made recommendations based on the broader range of possible causes.
Launched on July 3, 2002, CONTOUR was intended to encounter at least two comets and perform a variety of investigations and analyses of the comet material. After launch the spacecraft remained in Earth’s orbit until 15 August, 2002, when an integral solid rocket motor was fired to leave orbit and begin the transit to the comet Encke.
CONTOUR was programmed to re-establish telemetry contact with the ground following the burn, however, no signal was received. The mission design did not provide for telemetry coverage during the solid rocket motor burn and no provision
was made to optically observe the burn.
Active attempts to contact CONTOUR were unsuccessful. On 16 August, 2002, limited ground observations identified what appeared to be three separate objects on slightly divergent trajectories near CONTOUR's expected position. Further attempts to contact CONTOUR were made until 20 December, 2002, when NASA concluded the spacecraft was lost.
The investigation board concluded that NASA will apply the lessons from CONTOUR to future missions. Stated the report represented a lot of tough detective work by the many individuals and organizations involved in the investigation.
More info: NASA
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