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From: sdo@celerity.UUCP (Steve Oualline)
Newsgroups: net.columbia,net.space
Subject: Re: Morton-Thiokol Engineering Claims
Message-ID: <408@celerity.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 9-Mar-86 03:34:52 EST
Article-I.D.: celerity.408
Posted: Sun Mar  9 03:34:52 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 11-Mar-86 01:39:20 EST
References: <1301@decwrl.DEC.COM> <758@ism780c.UUCP> <6442@utzoo.UUCP> <179@axiom.UUCP> <529@oliven.UUCP>
Reply-To: sdo@celerity.UUCP (Steve Oualline)
Organization: Celerity Computing, San Diego, Ca.
Lines: 28
Xref: watmath net.columbia:2617 net.space:6342

When critising the Morton-Thiokol engineers for not going public you should
consider what would happen if the shuttle did not explode.

Here are the events that I would expect to happen.

1. Morton-Thiokol engineers decide that the engines have a 30% chance of
   blowing up.

2. They go to management with their findings.

3. Management overrules them.  

4. Engineers go to the press and cause a nasty stink.

5. Shuttle goes up and does not explode.

6. Engineers are labeled crack-pots and trouble makers.  They are fired.

7. Since they are known trouble makers, no one else will hire them.


I want to point out that as an engineer the most you can do when 
management overrules you is to document your findings.  This gives 
you protection if something goes wrong and places the blame 
on the managers who overruled you.

You can not go to the press unless the manager's judgement is so bad
that you are sure disaster will occur.  (Not probably occur, WILL occur).