ECE 3550 DIGITAL DESIGN
FALL 2007
Homework Assignment #1
Total: 60 pts.
Due 11:30am, Wednesday, September 16, 2008
An Essay on Work Ethic and Professional Responsibility
Write an essay using the case outlined below. Your paper must be at least three full
pages. Use 1” margins and 12 pt Times New Roman fonts with single line spacing. [find
old other example]
Roger Boisjoly on the Challenger Disaster: Discovering Leaks in the Primary Seal
The significance of January 1985 as the starting point results from the
observations made during the post-flight hardware inspection of Flight 51C. During this
inspection I found evidence that hot combustion gases had compromised the primary
seals on two field joints. My concern heightened as a result of the large amount of
blackened grease I observed between the two seals. Subsequent to reporting the findings
to my superiors, I was asked to proceed to the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in
Huntsville, Alabama, to brief them with a preliminary viewgraph presentation which
included my observations and an explanation of the scenarios that caused the seal erosion
and hot gas blow-by.
Morton Thiokol (the manufacturer of the booster rockets) was then asked to
prepare a detailed presentation as part of the Flight Readiness Review for Flight 51E,
which was scheduled for launch in April 1985. This presentation was given in February
at three successively higher-level review boards with refinements in contents made at
each level. I presented my belief that the lower-than-usual launch temperature was
responsible for such a large witness of hot gas blow-by, but NASA management insisted
that this position be softened for the final review board.
Focus your discussion on the issues below:
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?
Perform experiments
Consult personal advisors
Consult peers at work for advice
Take concerns to supervisor
Write memos far up the corporate ladder
Comply with the instructions by NASA management