Critical Error 1 Giving the Wrong Speech

Abstract

On January 27, 1986, because of the low temperatures expected for the next morning’s launch of the space shuttle Challenger, engineers at Morton Thiokol requested a delay in the launch. From their examinations of previous launches, the engineers believed that the lower the launch temperature, the more likely that explosive gases from the solid booster rockets would escape. In an afternoon meeting, these engineers succeeded in persuading management at Morton Thiokol to request a delay. However, when Morton Thiokol’s engineers and management discussed the delay with NASA during a teleconference that evening, they met strong resistance.