Which contractor manufactured the solid rocket booster motors whose O-ring joints failed during the STS-51L ascent?
Answer
Morton Thiokol, Inc.
The investigation placed blame, in part, on the contractor Morton Thiokol, Inc., which was responsible for manufacturing the solid rocket boosters (SRBs). Engineers working for this company had severe concerns regarding the reliability of the O-rings for at least two years prior to the incident. Crucially, these engineers had explicitly warned their superiors the night before the launch about the high potential for failure under the predicted cold launch temperatures, highlighting a critical breakdown in communication and deference to engineering warnings by management.
Related Questions
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