Case-Focus from Database of Prior Launches

Role of temperature in O-ring failures was difficult to determine by focusing on cases. Attention was focused on two key cases with O-ring failures: SRM15 (cold launch) and SR22 (warm launch). Below are two slides that were part of Morton-Thiokol presentation prior to launch.

Variable-Focus Makes Danger Clear

This java applet displays O-ring damage as a function of temperature. Hovering mouse over data point reveals numerical details. It is hard to imagine that anyone seeing this graph would have decided to launch at 30 degrees.