Texto en Español
Roger Boisjoly on the Challenger Disaster
I. Discovering Leaks in the Primary Seal
Question:
What is the problem confronting Boisjoly here? The shuttle is already behind schedule, and the leaks in the primary seal in Flight 51C in January 1985 occurred during the worst temperature change in Florida history -- hardly everyday conditions. Which of the following actions would be appropriate to take at this point?
Answer: Write memos far up the corporate ladder.
There is no need to get the immediate attention of upper management; another record cold condition could not occur for many months. Therefore, if cold weather has caused the seal erosion, you have time to gather more information. If you do need to take your concern to the top, you will want to have good reasons and evidence to substantiate your concerns.
Further actions to possibly take:
Supporting Materials to Aid Decision Making
- Morton Thiokol and the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster
- Essay by Roger Boisjoly. A background summary of important events leading to the Challenger disaster starting with January, 1985, plus the specifics of the telecon meeting held the night prior to the launch at which an attempt was made to stop the launch by the Morton Thiokol engineers. In the essay he argues that the off-line telecon caucus by Morton Thiokol Management constituted the unethical decision-making forum which ultimately produced the management decision to launch Challenger without any restrictions.
- 7/31/85 Memo about O-Ring Erosion
- 8/22/85 Memo from A.R. Thompson on the Flight Seal
- What Went Wrong With the Solid Rocket Booster
- Morton Thiokol Wasatch Division Corporate Structure
- Report of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident
- Representation and Misrepresentation: Tufte and the Morton Thiokol Engineers on the Challenger