research paper

More Questions and Alternative Scenarios for the Challenger Disaster

The explosion of the space shuttle Challenger in January 1986 is withoutquestion the worst disaster in this nation's space program. The seven astronauts aboard died, and the shuttle was grounded until it could fly safely. The explosion resulted from the failure of O-rings to seal in the booster rocket joints, apparently because of unusually low temperatures that day in Florida. The catastrophe is also remembered as a classic example of alleged retribution against whistleblowers by their employer-Morton Thiokol, Inc., maker of the shuttle's booster rockets. Some Thiokol employees were critical of the company and of NASA in their testimony before the presidential commission investigating the accident, and they believed that they were punished as a result. Most notable among these individuals was Roger Boisjoly, an engineer who for several months had voiced concerns about the O-rings and whose warnings against launching Challenger were ignored.

For a year before the Challenger explosion, Boisjoly conducted research into concerns that low temperatures could compromise critical joints and seals in the shuttle's booster rockets. He advised his superiors about his concerns, but they did not view the matter with the same degree of urgency. On the evening before the Challenger liftoff, Boisjoly and other engineers opposed the launch because of the low temperature. After NASA officials objected, Thiokol senior managers overruled the engineers and authorized the flight. After the disaster, Boisjoly was initially placed on the investigating team. But after testifying before the Rogers Commission about the disagreement over launching the shuttle, his position was changed and he was isolated from NASA and the effort to redesign the seal. After the commission chairman criticized the company for what appeared to be punishment of Boisjoly and Allan McDonald, another engineer whose testimony was critical of Thiokol and NASA, both men were given their jobs back. A couple of months later, however, Boisjoly left Thiokol on extended sick leave .•

Discussion Questions

1. It is generally conceded that the Thiokol engineers did what they could to prevent the Challenger launch. But did they? In view of what was at stake, did they have a moral responsibility to do more? What more could they have done?

2. Consider the following scenario: After the engineers are overruled, Boisjoly calls a major television news reporter and goes public with his con- cerns. The story is aired, the flight is stopped, and Boisjoly is eventually eased out of the company. How do you assess the moral character of Boisjoly's actions? Are there conditions under which a whistleblower has a moral obliga- tion to publicize a matter outside company channels? Even ifhis or her job will be at risk?

3. Imagine that when the reporter checks with an engineer at NASA, she is told that Boisjoly is absolutely wrong and that the risk is minimal. Not having enough time to check out the facts, the reporter chooses to kill the story and tells Boisjoly of her decision. Boisjoly then calls another reporter and anony- mously claims that a terrorist group has planted a bomb on the shuttle. As a rocket engineer, Boisjoly is able to convince the reporter that the threat is genuine. The story runs, the flight is postponed, and the shuttle launches safely on a warmer day. The original reporter never reveals that Boisjoly called her, and Boisjoly keeps his job. Assess the moral character ofBoisjoly's actions. Are there conditions under which a whistleblower has a moral obligation to resort to deception or law breaking?

4. Imagine that Boisjoly's original story is reported, the flight is delayed, and Boisjoly is gradually eased out of the company. The news story causes a precipitous drop in Thiokol's stock price. The price remains depressed for a year while the O-ring problem is solved. The next launch is successful, but a massive unrelated computer malfunction causes the shuttle to burn up during reentry. NASA decides to cancel such space flights for good, costing Thiokol millions of dollars and hundreds of jobs. Assess the moral character of Bois- joly's actions.

Sources

Boisjoly, Russell P., Ellen Foster Curtis, and Eugene Melican, "Roger Boisjoly and the Challenger Disaster: The Ethical Dimensions," Journal of Business Ethics, 8 (1989),217 -230.

Rossiter, AI, Jr., "Company Sidelines Exec Who Objected to Challenger Launch," Sunday Star- Ledger, May 11, 1986, I, 10.

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