K-Gray Engineering Pathway Digital Library - Engineering Education Wing of the NSDL

STS 51-L Challenger Design Case Study

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Audience/Grade: College Freshman - Graduate
Discipline(s): Aerospace Engineering
Design
Engineering Ethics
General Engineering, Engineering Science
Learning Resource Type: Teaching - Case Study
Media Type:

 WWW
Author(s): Lauren Parker, Media Relations, Lulu Chetan S. Sankar and P.K. Raju of Auburn University
Description: Multimedia case study on CD ROM, which can be purchased at cost. "Joe Kilminster, the Vice-President of Space Booster Programs at Morton Thiokol, Inc. (MTI), flipped the teleconference switch in the MTI conference room on January 27th, 1986. MTI had successfully created the Solid Rocket Booster, the first solid fuel propellant system, for the NASA Space Shuttle and it had worked without mission failure in all 24 Shuttle launches. Although MTI and NASA had encountered problems with the Solid Rocket Booster field joint during 1972 to 1980, design modifications of larger O-rings and thicker shims had been instituted to help mitigate known design problems. MTI engineers were convinced that the possible effect of freezing temperatures on the SRB field joint could cause major problems within the Space Shuttle systems. MTI would have to decide whether or not to recommend that NASA launch the STS 51-L, the Challenger." Keywords: history of technology, design, decision making, ethics.
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Related Resources
Keywords: STS-51, Space Shuttle Challenger, ethics case study
Is Component of Laboratory for Innovative Technology and Engineering Education - LITEE
   
Usage Tip
Related ABET Criteria: (c) Design a system, component, or process
(f) Understand professional and ethical responsibility
Use of Resource: Available for free after registration.
Difficulty: Medium
Interactivity Level: High

   
Version Info
Publication Date: 2007
Platform/Format: WWW
Cost: Not free
Download URL: http://www.liteecases.com/lcm/catalog/case_studies/0/sts-51_l/17/
Metadata: IEEE LOM Record
Collection: NEEDS NEEDS