Eng.

Ethics & Leadership 0405401, Fall 2019

Homework #1
Due on Blackboard by 6:00 pm, Tuesday September 24, 2019
Dr. Walid A. Metwally

Problem #1 :
(Problem 1.10 in your textbook, Page 16)
Space Shuttle Challenger

It might be assumed that the management decision to launch was prompted in

part by concerns for the health of the company and the space program as a
whole. Given the political climate at the time of the launch, if problems and
delays continued, ultimately Thiokol might have lost NASA contracts, or NASA
budgets might have been severely reduced. Clearly, this scenario could have led
to the loss of many jobs at Thiokol and NASA. How might these considerations
ethically be factored into the decision?

Problem #2:
(Problem 1.15 in your textbook, Page 17)
Space Shuttle Columbia

Some people believe that the shuttle should have been better engineered for
crew safety, including provisions for repair of the shuttle during the mission,
escape of the crew when problems occur during launch, or having a backup
shuttle ready to launch for rescue missions. What are some reasons why NASA
would not have planned this when the shuttle was designed?

Notes:
1) Submit the homework on Blackboard in either WORD or PDF format
2) No late submittals will be accepted
3) Use your own words when answering the questions. Plagiarism will not be
tolerated