You are the NASA Director of Launch Control in charge of the Shuttle Challenger\
ID: 422039 • Letter: Y
Question
You are the NASA Director of Launch Control in charge of the Shuttle Challenger's scheduled April 4, 1983 launch. On the evening of April 3rd, you receive a call from Allan McDonald, the director of the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Motor Project for the engineering contractor Morton Thiokol. McDonald tells you he's refused to sign the launch recommendation over safety concerns McDonald says he's concerned that predicted below-freezing temperatures might impact the integrity of the solid rockets' O-rings on the Shuttle There is no proof he is correct. Millions of dollars have been spent on the Shuttle launch Your superiors all the way up to the White House have high expectations that the launch will take place Nobody else from NASA or Morton Thiokol or any other contractor working on the Shuttle has contacted you about any safety concerns In fact, your superiors disagree with the concerns McDonald has contacted you about, and McDonald's boss has signed off on the paperwork recommending the launch proceed as scheduled signature that gives approval for the launch to do.Explanation / Answer
1. The facts are:
-The scheduled launch is just one day ahead.
-Only McDonald has refused to sign the launch and there's no proof that he is correct.
-The superiors disagree with McDonald's concern.
- McDonald's boss has signed the paperwork.
- Thousands of dollars have been spent.
2. Ethical issues involved:
-The issue of trust with McDonald in case of signing.
-The hopes from the higher authorities towards the launch
- If agreed to launch and a disaster occurs, then answerable to why ignored McDonald's warning
- If doesn't sign then answerable to the White house
3. Stakeholders are:
- Government: who put fundings, they would be considering re stop the launch and re testing to be done
- NASA's board of directors: who put their time into this mission who may want to see it a success
4. Available alternatives:
A-To stop the launch and carry a test on the rocket's O rings
B-To held a meeting with the technical staff about the genuinity of the statement and get their conclusion
C-To classify it as high uncertain risk and carry out the launch
5. Affect of various alternatives on stakeholders:
Alternative A- This would lower the trust value of Nasa and its management, although it would give a precautionary advantage to the government.
Alternative B- This would prevent any unethical practice and would increase the integrity among the team of this project,as well as the relations with the government.
Alternative C- This would point out unethical issues within the management of the launch fails and would harm the stakeholders financially as well as morally.
6. The decision would be to carry out Alternative B.
7. Outcomes would be:
- The technical team agreed to the launch as it's highly uncertain for a problem to occur in the O rings and the launch was a success.
- The technical team agreed with McDonald's statement and the launch was delayed after testing and confirmation of the statement and correcting the cause.
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