Space Shuttle Challenger and Quality Assurance

Space Shuttle Challenger – In your paper, briefly describe the field joint, the design, and the fixes to the design after the failure. Then, given what you know of QA techniques, thus far, describe how the System Engineering “machinery” (Management, Technical Analysis, Design) failed in the case of Challenger. Think in terms of reliability, FMECA, design reviews, etc.

This paper must be no shorter than 1000 words.
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Comments from the instructor:

In the Raheja text reading, you came across a cross-sectional view of the original field joint for NASA’s Space Transportation System (STS) solid rocket booster. This field joint was at the center of the loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger and the seven crew members aboard in 1986.

Research the field joint, the failure, the redesign, and the aspects of the failure beyond the technology to include management styles, personnel attitudes, performance pressures, and data retrieved from previous space shuttle flights.

The following papers and reports may be of help:

Introduction, Solid Rockets (SRB) and Conclusion sections of R. P. Feynman’s Personal Observations on the Reliability of the Shuttle (https://history.nasa.gov/rogersrep/v2appf.htm.) (from www.nasa.gov (Links to an external site.)).
Commentary by James Oberg, Deadly Space Lessons Go Unheeded (https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna6872105#.W0PPudJKiUm.), (from www.nbcnews.com (Links to an external site.)), written nineteen years after the Challenger incident and two years after Space Shuttle Columbia also met with disaster.
For your paper, briefly describe the field joint, the design, and the fixes to the design after the failure. Then, given what you know of QA techniques, thus far, describe how the System Engineering “machinery” (Management, Technical Analysis, Design) failed in the case of Challenger. Also think in terms of reliability, FMECA, and design review.

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Required deliverables

Context/introduction
Paper provides an effective introduction and a research problem that is related to the field of aeronautical science. It presents strong relationships between factors with accurate real-world examples. It develops a coherent, central theme that is expressed in a well-structured, organized, and logically-consistent manner throughout the assignment.

Research
Paper provides a comprehensive identification and analysis of key issues related to the select research topic or research problem. It designs an effective course of action to solve the proposed research problem using multi-disciplinary principles, if appropriate. The evidence comes from a wide variety of valid sources. The bibliography is complete and reflects the appropriate sources.

Comprehension
Paper presents a well-supported argument based on relevant concepts and theories, providing new ideas related to the select research topic or research problem. Argument is logical and uses significant examples, evidence, research, and/or data from course content and from valid, external information sources throughout assignment.

Application
Decisions and conclusions are a result of analysis and synthesis of evidence. Formulates excellent resolution and recommendations. Conclusion includes possible consequences and outcome scenarios.

Style & Mechanics
Paper efficiently uses current APA guidelines in citations and references. Text is grammatically-sound and free of spelling errors and follows required formatting rules.