Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!att!cbnewsh!mrb1
From: mrb1@cbnewsh.ATT.COM (maurice.r.baker)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Kennedy Landings/W.Coast Launches/5th Shuttle
Summary: Engineers' Stupidity ??
Message-ID: <6736@cbnewsh.ATT.COM>
Date: 19 Dec 89 23:17:35 GMT
References: <1989Dec17.214834.10372@athena.mit.edu>
Distribution: na
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 22

In article <1989Dec17.214834.10372@athena.mit.edu>, mmachlis@athena.mit.edu (Matthew A Machlis) writes:
> 
> There are several reasons why the shuttle does not land at Kennedy, many
> of them being traceable back to the stupidity of one or more engineers.
                                      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
                                                               ^^^^^^^^^

Please do not make a statement like this without some factual basis.
Many of the decisions which relate to space program (or any similar
public endeavor, for that matter) are influenced by economists, politicians,
life scientists, public relations departments, non-technical managers, etc. --
as well as engineers.

Perhaps an engineer did single-handedly make the decision.  I would be
interested in seeing the  history of this issue.

Our profession is taking enough of a beating these days without this kind
of thoughtless remark.

Maurice R. Baker
Electrical Engineer 
hoqub!mrb