CHALLENGER DISASTER

Challenger Disaster Presentation Abdul Muqtadir Ansari [ 1559940] Fairleigh Dickinson Univeristy

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Roger Boisjoly was an American mechanical engineer, fluid dynamics, and an aerodynamicist who worked for Morton Thiokol, the manufacturer of the solid rocket boosters (SRBs) for the Space Shuttle program. He is best known for having raised objections to the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger even one day before the loss of the spacecraft and its crew. From childhood, he was known for his honesty and would not back down from what he believed in, say family members. About six months before the disaster, Boisjoly an engineer at Morton Thiokol, the firm that built the boosters wrote a memo warning that freezing temperatures could lead to this nightmare scenario.

1. What is the most striking, or important, or interesting thing that you learned about your case study OR about whistle-blowing in general while doing your research for the essay. Answer: The most important thing I learned from this case study is that roger boisjoly didnt lose his ethical values Boisjoly did everything he was ethically obligated to do, by speaking out at every possible level and from time to time expressing his strong concerns and, at the end, his strong feelings against the launch. His ethical values urged him to protest and caution NASA about the safety concerns associated with the launch of the shuttle, even during Discovering Leaks in the Primary Seal, O- ring problem or the unfavorable weather condition during the launch of the shuttle. By doing this, he had nothing to gain, he endured the censure within the company, and he took great risks. When he later went public, he risked his job and livelihood. Though it would have been ethically right to go public earlier, I do not believe it was ethically wrong to postpone this heroic step as at least some kind of justice can be provided and further tragedies can be prevented.

2. Present your thesis statement and then briefly summarize and explain the single most important reason you have for holding that position. Answer: After reading, examining and verifying in depth about the Challenger Disaster case, though being a simple ordinary engineer going against the organization, I agree with what Roger Boisjoly because at every step, he tried to whistle blow whenever he could do that and also he protested at the later stages of launching of the shuttle. The main reason I support him because of the earlier stages of development of the shuttle, at every point, where ever he felt, he cautioned his senior authorities about the risks and dangers associated with it and he didnt stop and protested at all stages. This is because of his ethical values and having a fear of loss of life and indeed he tried to save humanity as he didnt gain anything except following his ethical values even after being stopped and ignored by his senior level authorities during the development of the shuttle till the launch of it. Even after the NASA and his company knew about the hazard

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associated with the shuttle,they went ahead with the launch and hence it would be wrong to blame him for whistle blowing late as couple of years later, there was an act which was passed for whistle blowers and hence I feel that Roger Boisjolys revolt had good result all together in the end.