Re: Space Shuttle story on 60 Minutes Wed. tonight

"John" <pelchat@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>But if it were so, rather than machismo, I suspect the comment is an
>artistic reflection of an ethic that controllers felt and still feel
>regarding their responsibilty towards the crew and the spacecraft.

Indeed.

It's a statement of supreme self confidence that comes from years of
training, simulation, and experience.

>From a similar POV, our views on damage control in submarines is the
same "failure is not an option". It's not machismo, but a reflection
of an attitude of "we'll try everything possible to save the ship and
crew, and won't stop trying until the flooding reaches our nose or the
fire reaches our knees". We may fail, but it won't be for lack of
trying our dammed level best.

>"Responsibility is a unique concept. It can only reside in a single
>individual. You may share it with others, but your portion is not
>diminished. You may delegate it, but it is still with you. If
>responsibility is rightfully yours, no evasion or ignorance or passing
>the blame can shift the burden to someone else. Unless you can point
>your finger at the one who is responsible when something goes wrong,
>then you never had anyone really responsible."
>
>
>Admiral Hyman Rickover

ADM Rickover wrote a lot of things that the space and alt.space
communities should read and heed. One day I've *got* to find and post
his quote about the difference between real and paper hardware.

D.
--
Touch-twice life. Eat. Drink. Laugh.

-Resolved: To be more temperate in my postings.
Oct 5th, 2004 JDL
.