Writing Assignment 2 Dr. Brian Craig
Tapan Acharya
L20330660
• Answers to the following
• If you were in the place of Roger Boisjoly or Allan McDonald and were convinced it was not
safe to launch Challenger, what would you have done?
Ans 1. Regardless of ethical considerations, risking disaster by launching under unsafe
conditions would have been a big bad gamble for Roger Boisjoly's career. His career would be
finished, and he might have faced criminal charges. So the best thing he did was being a
Whistle blower which he did and I would have done the same thing. But in 1986
Whistleblowers laws were not in practice like it is right now in 21st century which would have
protected him and his identity and job. Roger Boisjoly is still a national hero the whistleblower
who tried to prevent the disastrous Challenger explosion.
• What should Roger Boisjoly have done differently (if anything)? In answering this question,
keep in mind that at his age, the prospect of finding a new job if he was fired was slim
(potentially illegal, but potentially true). He also had a family to support.
Ans 2. He knew that the O ring had not been tested below the temperature below 53 F. He
was not sure if O Ring will seal the gap in the boosters and not let the gases escape. He being
a main test engineer should have understood his responsibility and should have petitioned a
written complain to higher federal authorities in Washington D.C. ,though, it is clear that he
also had the pressure of finishing his job and project but the safety should not compromised
cause many lives were lost.
• Would you have gone outside the chain of command to inform higher-level NASA
management of your concerns? What do you think the consequences of that action would
be?
Ans 3. Yes definitely I would have gone outside the chain of commands to inform higher-level
management. But ultimately the final decision is of the management. So subordinates could
not have done much differently else they might have lost their jobs. Except recommending for
the delay for the launch.
