Xref: utzoo sci.space:8404 sci.space.shuttle:2026
Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!mailrus!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!nosun!cvedc!billa
From: billa@cvedc.UUCP (Bill Anderson)
Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: space news from Sept 12 AW&ST
Summary: Integrity vs. $$$
Message-ID: <644@otto.cvedc.UUCP>
Date: 20 Nov 88 22:36:59 GMT
References: <1988Nov4.065730.10761@utzoo.uucp> <7594@dasys1.UUCP> <1988Nov14.214139.1892@utzoo.uucp> <7734@dasys1.UUCP>
Reply-To: billa@otto.UUCP (Bill Anderson)
Organization: Computervision Beaverton Oregon
Lines: 32

In article <7734@dasys1.UUCP> tneff@dasys1.UUCP (Tom Neff) writes:
>In article <1988Nov14.214139.1892@utzoo.uucp> henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer) writes:
>-Being honorable under pressure is difficult, yes.  It's ever so much
>-simpler to take the easy way out and say "I vas chust following orders".
>
>Thiokol was concurrently negotiating a contract renewal.  The pressure
>to "go along" under those circumstances is unbearable.  Also note that
>Rockwell had doubts and withdrew them (although the decision process
>was quite controversial).  Until and unless we put every contractor in
>the excruciating position Thiokol was in and compare their performance,
>I consider it unfair to single out Thiokol for not dealing well with
>improper NASA pressure.

Unfair?  More than 2 1/2 years delay in shuttle launching, 7 fine
people killed, 7 families in sorrow, etc. and you would consider it
unfair to deal harshly with Thiokol?  I'm afraid those families (and I)
don't share your compassion for Thiokol.  You think it's better to let
them get away with caving in under pressure than to make an example of
them?  I think it would be better to do a good deal of "house cleaning"
and give the very clear message that honor and integrity are more
valuable than any schedule, contract, or $.  In my opinion, anything
less is unfair and demoralizing.

OK - Rockwell made the same mistake and got away with it.  You can bet
they would be less likely to try to get away with it a second time if
Thiokol had been badly "burned"!

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