This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:
- Common errors to avoid in studying the history of an engineering failure: the retrospective fallacy and the myth of perfect engineering practice
- Shuttle hardware involved in the disaster
- Decisions made in the period preceding the launch
- Ethical issue: NASA giving first priority to public safety over other concerns
- Ethical issue: the contractor giving first priority to public safety over other concerns
- Ethical issue: whistle blowing
- Ethical issue: informed consent
- Ethical issue: ownership of company records
- Ethical issue: how the public perceives that an engineering decision involves an ethical violation
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