1. Introduction
The Challenger Disaster was a complex case because it involved multiple parties. The goal is not to determine whether the decision to launch the Challenger was right or wrong, but whether if it was ethical of them to decide to launch the shuttle at that point in time based what they knew about the conditions pertaining to the launch. In order to analyze this, I will be using the virtue theory. However, before the analysis can be done, an understanding of the case and virtue theory must be discussed.
2. Case Description
In order to understand the ethical issues involved, the events leading up to the launch need to be addressed. The main focus of this case is the solid rocket boosters on the Challenger, which are used in the initial …show more content…
After liftoff, one of the cameras focused on the critical points showed black smoke escaping the right solid rocket booster. Due to the cold temperature, the O-rings were improperly placed and the putty on top to protect the rings was also ineffective. As a result, the gases expanded outward creating the opening and burning past both O-rings. The joint was then sealed by the byproducts of the combustion, but the wind blew the seal open again. The flame from the solid rocket booster escaped and burned through the liquid rocket booster, causing the Challenger to …show more content…
Everyone differs in moral and intellectual virtues, therefore the virtuous person is different from person to person. For example, someone religious may use Jesus as their virtuous person in a situation whereas someone not as religious may choose a role model such as Martin Luther King Jr as their virtuous person. For this example, we will say the virtuous person is Jesus Christ. As Jesus Christ, he believes that all lives are equally important and lives must be preserved at all cost if it is in their power. He also believes the way to living prosperously is by helping others. If the engineers used Jesus as their virtuous person, then the recommendation they would give would be to not launch the shuttle. Any doubts in their mind that the boosters will open causing a failure would put the astronauts’ lives in danger. As a result, this would immediately lead to not launching the shuttle. This also goes for NASA as well. Regardless of the pressure exerted on them by Congress or other space programs, they would put lives of the astronauts above all else because that is what Jesus would do in this case. With that being said, the continuation of the launch would be unethical in this
The Challenger Disaster was a complex case because it involved multiple parties. The goal is not to determine whether the decision to launch the Challenger was right or wrong, but whether if it was ethical of them to decide to launch the shuttle at that point in time based what they knew about the conditions pertaining to the launch. In order to analyze this, I will be using the virtue theory. However, before the analysis can be done, an understanding of the case and virtue theory must be discussed.
2. Case Description
In order to understand the ethical issues involved, the events leading up to the launch need to be addressed. The main focus of this case is the solid rocket boosters on the Challenger, which are used in the initial …show more content…
After liftoff, one of the cameras focused on the critical points showed black smoke escaping the right solid rocket booster. Due to the cold temperature, the O-rings were improperly placed and the putty on top to protect the rings was also ineffective. As a result, the gases expanded outward creating the opening and burning past both O-rings. The joint was then sealed by the byproducts of the combustion, but the wind blew the seal open again. The flame from the solid rocket booster escaped and burned through the liquid rocket booster, causing the Challenger to …show more content…
Everyone differs in moral and intellectual virtues, therefore the virtuous person is different from person to person. For example, someone religious may use Jesus as their virtuous person in a situation whereas someone not as religious may choose a role model such as Martin Luther King Jr as their virtuous person. For this example, we will say the virtuous person is Jesus Christ. As Jesus Christ, he believes that all lives are equally important and lives must be preserved at all cost if it is in their power. He also believes the way to living prosperously is by helping others. If the engineers used Jesus as their virtuous person, then the recommendation they would give would be to not launch the shuttle. Any doubts in their mind that the boosters will open causing a failure would put the astronauts’ lives in danger. As a result, this would immediately lead to not launching the shuttle. This also goes for NASA as well. Regardless of the pressure exerted on them by Congress or other space programs, they would put lives of the astronauts above all else because that is what Jesus would do in this case. With that being said, the continuation of the launch would be unethical in this