Space Shuttle’s O-Ring Problems

NASA has reported that evidence of leakage and extensive damage to O-ring seals have been discovered in the nozzle joint of the space shuttle solid rocket boosters after the last two flights. The same joint leakage problems and design flaws that initiated the Challenger disaster, nine years ago, are still present and have not been satisfactorily corrected. As a result of these abnormalities, NASA is seriously considering grounding the shuttle indefinitely.

After the Challenger accident, Congress initiated the Advanced Solid Rocket Motor (ASRM) program with the purpose of designing and manufacturing a new, lighter, cost-effective and, most important, a safer replacement solid rocket motor. In the interim, NASA developed superficial “Band-aid” fixes in order to allow the shuttle to launch. After more than three years of design and development effort and the expenditure of more than $2 billion, Congress and NASA canceled the ASRM program in late 1993. The ASRM program was canceled for lack of support by NASA because it was an embarrassment and reminder of NASA’s responsibility for Challenger, political pressure sponsored by the state of Utah, where the motors are manufactured by Thiokol Corp., and “pork barrel” politics.

At this point in time, the ASRM motors would have been very close to being available to replace the existing flawed solid rocket motors.

The very existence and continuation of our manned space program are in serious jeopardy as a result of NASA’s mismanagement, political forces and greed from Thiokol and Utah, and federal government ineptitude and irresponsibility.

It is too bad that it is probably too late to resurrect the ASRM program as the facilities, equipment, in-process materials and components and technical people have been abandoned, scrapped and dispersed.

GARY L. PALMER

Salinas

Palmer was an engineering manager of case design in the ASRM program.