Challenger: The Untold Story Part 7 of 10

A Lone Morton Thiokol Engineer tried to convince NASA and Thiokol management that their booster rocket is flawed. Both NASA and Thiokol ignore his warnings.The next day The Space Shuttle Challenger explodes over Florida and the Rogers Commission is formed to find out what exactly happened.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• space
• shuttle
• challenger
• diaster
• explosion
• rogers
• commission
• morton
• thiokol
• Roger
• Boisjoly

[James1toknow]

Take off your engineering hat and put a Managers hat on???? That is the same as saying change your mind period!, Why in the world is a Manager making a decision that engineers need be making? Never should this ever occur in a technical systems issue for flight safty. Gambling is located in Vegas!!!

[jazzkeyboardman]

This happened in 1986; so, most of them are likely retired or dead by now - although I'm sure they have been replaced with new ones.

The shuttle program has been plagued with problems since its start-up. First it was tiles, then o-rings, now foam. In nearly thirty years, the shuttle hasn't evolved to the point where I'd let my dog fly on it. Granted, it is cutting-edge technology....but the industry's proven ability at putting a gag order on senior engineers hasn't improved safety, either.

[Therealskyttyl]

I doubt any engineer would be reading this comment, but I personally am not an engineer and the first thought I had as a potential solution to the problem with the O-rings in low temperatures is to simply pre-heat the O-rings to a desired temperature before launch- much like going outside and letting my engine run a couple of minutes before I put it in gear and start out down the road. Would this not be feasible?

[James1toknow]

@htc6600 The managers did not know, and they pressured the engineers to give the OK that is why Managers don't need to be in the loop when it comes to safety mission Critical Decisions. It's mute to further explain this point the fault was found to be with Management.

[htc6600]

@James1toknow You're making the faulty assumption that the managers either weren't engineers or had no knowledge of the subject they were talking about, an unlikely scenario in an engineering firm. A VP of engineering would certainly be an engineer.

[James1toknow]

@vampov That's great, Life is like driving, you need to be on the defense and eyes on the road.

I'm very glade to hear business schools are using this as a learning tool. My faith in the human race could be restored. LOL

[vampov]

@James1toknow that is why this experience is taught to in business schools and engineering schools all over the USA.

[Marty933]

it is a sad fact that managers and administrators are prepared to risk someone else's lives over potential profits.

[MrCrazyh81]

i 2 blame the head bosses

[MrCrazyh81]

@MrTheEvilgerman i agree 

[twinturbonissan300zx]

@Jagbrothers2 the stupid thing is though, it cost them a $billion dollars when the disaster happened. How STUPID could they be?