Investigation of the Challenger Accident

By Roe, Robert A.

Book Id: WPLBN0000658306
Format Type: PDF eBook:
File Size: 20.80 MB
Reproduction Date: 2007

Title:	Investigation of the Challenger Accident
Author:	Roe, Robert A.
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Government publications, Federal Depository Library Program, Political science.
Collections:	Government Library Collection, Federal Depository Library Collection
Historic Publication Date:
Publisher:	Government Printing Office


Citation APA MLA Chicago A. Ro, B. R. (n.d.). Investigation of the Challenger Accident. Retrieved from http://gutenberg.cc/

Description
Government Printing Office publication for the Federal Depository Library:

Excerpt
Excerpts: On your instructions, the staff has carefully reviewed the information made available to the Committee and prepared the necessary findings and recommendations. The task was enormous and has been done in a careful and painstaking manner. I am especially grateful to all the staff which is listed on the inside cover of the report for their professional and thorough application to this important report. We worked in a collegial manner and on a completely bipartisan basis. I particularly want to thank the three group leaders, Ron Williams, Terry Dawson and Harriet Smith who headed up the respective subgroups for the Accident, the Technical, and the Management Issues.

Table of Contents
CONTENTS --. Page I . INTRODUCTI.O...N.. ................................................................................................... 1 I1. CONCLUSIO.N...S.. ..................................................................................................... 3 I11. COMPILATIOONF ISSUES,F INDINGSA, ND RECOMMENDATI.O...N...S.. ................. 9 IV. BACKGROU.N...D.. .................................................................................................3..5.. V . THEA CCIDEN..T.. .....................................................................................................3 9 A . Introduction .................................................................................................3 9 B . Solid Rocket Motors .................................................................................... 50 1.History ................................................................................................ 50 2 . Summary of Casing Joint Design .................................................. 60 3 . Testing and Certification ................................................................ 64 4 . Manufactnring .................................................................................. 64 5 . Stacking Operations ........................................................................ 65 6. Summar of Launch Operations ................................................... 68 7 . ~etrievafT ransportation, and Refurbishment .......................... 73 C . External Tank .............................................................................................. 74 D . Crew Survival .............................................................................................. 76 E.Sabotage ......................................................................................................7..9 F. Additional Avenues of Investigation ....................................................... 79 VI . Drscuss~oOF~ CRITICALIS SUES.. ..........................................................................8 5 A . Technical Issues .......................................................................................... 85 1. Hardware Development and Production .................................... 85 a . Problems in Hardware Certification .................................... 85 b . Recurrent Hardware Problems .............................................. 92 c . Other Engineering Concerns .................................................. 99 d . Desirable Tests Not Yet Approved ........................................ 101 e . Production/Refurbishment Issues ......................................... 105 f . Review of NASA's Redesign/Recertification Plan. ............. 109 2. Operations ......................................................................................... 114 a . Shuttle Processing Issues ...................................................... 114 b . Pressures on Shuttle Operations ......................................... 119 c . Impact of Pressures on Shuttle Operations ......................... 122 d . Other Safety Issues .................................................................. 132 B. Management Issues .................................................................................... 138 1. Technical Management ................................................................... 138 a . Risk Management Issues ........................................................ 138 b . Launch Decision Process ......................................................... 144 c . Technical Expertise of Personnel .......................................... 154 d . Change Control Process .......................................................... 161 2. Organization and Policy Management ......................................... 165 a . Management Structure ........................................................... 165 b . Communication ......................................................................... 170 c . Safety, Reliability, and Quality Assurance .......................... 174 d . Contractor Incentives .............................................................. 179 VII . CASINGJO INT DESIGN.. .......................................................................................... 183 VIII . LAUNCHO PERATION...S.. ........................................................................................ 207 IX . DEFINITIONOF TERMSA ND ACRONYM...S.. .......................................................... 253 X . APPENDICE..S... ...................................................................................................... 255 V-A .................................................................................................................. 255 V-B .................................................................................................................. 260 v-C .................................................................................................................. 273 V-D .................................................................................................................. 275 V-E .................................................................................................................. 277 V-F ................................................................................................................. 283