Mark Maier NASA Challenger Disaster A/V Collection Identifier/Call Number: 2010.02.R Contributing Institution: Frank Mt

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Finding Aid for the Mark Maier NASA Challenger Disaster Collection 2010.02.r

Finding aid prepared by Jenny Esteron, Rand Boyd Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections and Archives, Leatherby Libraries Chapman University One University Drive Orange, CA, 92866 (714) 532 - 7711 [email protected] 2/16/2010

Finding Aid for the Mark Maier 2010.02.r 1 NASA Challenger Disaster Collection 2010.02.r Title: Mark Maier NASA Challenger Disaster A/V Collection Identifier/Call Number: 2010.02.r Contributing Institution: Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections and Archives, Leatherby Libraries One University Drive Orange, CA, 92866 (714) 532 - 7711 [email protected] Language of Material: English Physical Description: 8.8 Linear feet(4 file boxes, 1 document box, 1 flat box) Date (bulk): Bulk, 1986 Date (inclusive): 1985-2006 Location note: Leatherby Libraries Abstract: This collection consists of a number of videotapes and some text material collected by Professor Mark Maier that deals with the NASA Challenger disaster and its aftermath. Conditions Governing Use note There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions. Biographical/Historical note The NASA Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on January 28, 1986 when Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, leading to the deaths of its seven crew members. Disintegration of the entire vehicle began after an O-ring seal in its right solid rocket booster failed at liftoff. The disaster resulted in the formation of the Rogers Commission, a special commission appointed by United States President Ronald Reagan to investigate the accident. The Presidential Commission found that NASA's organizational culture and decision-making processes had been a key contributing factor to the accident. NASA managers had known that contractor Morton Thiokol's design of the solid rocket boosters contained a potentially catastrophic flaw in the O-rings, but they failed to address it properly. They also disregarded warnings from engineers about the dangers of launching posed by the low temperatures of that morning. Roger Boisjoly, an engineer who worked for Morton Thiokol, raised objections to the launch of the Challenger. In July 1985, Boisjoly wrote a memo to his superiors concerning the faulty design of the solid rocket boosters that, if left unaddressed, could lead to a catastrophic event, which was apparently ignored. Following the announcement that the Challenger mission was confirmed for January 28, 1986, Boisjoly and his colleagues tried to stop the flight. Temperatures were due to be −1 °C overnight. He felt that this would severely compromise the safety of the O-Ring. Boisjoly was one of the witnesses called during the Presidential Commission hearings. He gave accounts of how and why he felt the O-Rings had failed. Boisjoly later became a speaker on workplace ethics. Richard C. Cook was a Resource Analyst at NASA's Comptroller's Office. NASA officials ignored a memo Cook wrote which detailed engineering concerns and warnings from the shuttle builders at Morton Thiokol regarding a flaw in the SRB O-rings. In 2007, his memoirs of the tragedy were published in a book entitled, Challenger Revealed: An Insider’s Account of How the Reagan Administration Caused the Greatest Tragedy of the Space Age. Mark Maier, Ph. D is Associate Professor and Program Chair, Leadership & Organization Studies; Director, The Chapman Leadership Project; Director, Chapman Human Diversity Program. As a professor at Chapman University, his areas of teaching and consulting expertise include: servant-leadership, diversity, team development and ethical decision making. Related Archival Materials note Researchers will also find of interest the Roger Boisjoly NASA Challenger Disaster Collection (2010.17.r) as it contains his personal papers as well as extensive material on the Challenger investigation. Scope and Contents note This collection holds videos, images, and transcripts regarding the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. A/V materials comprise of NASA footage and programs on the Challenger accident. It also consists of videos of the Presidential Commission hearings from February 25 to February 27, 1986, as well as transcripts from the Presidential Commission Report. Various lectures and interviews by Roger Boisjoly are included on workplace ethics. Other materials in the collection are an interview and article by Richard Cook, and papers from Professor Mark Maier regarding the disaster. A noteworthy item is an O-Ring sample. Posters with various Challenger images and a Florida license plate are also contained.

Finding Aid for the Mark Maier 2010.02.r 2 NASA Challenger Disaster Collection 2010.02.r Conditions Governing Access note This collection is open for research. Preferred Citation note [identify item], Mark Maier NASA Challenger Disaster Collection (2010.02.r)], Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections and Archives, Chapman University, CA. Arrangement note This collection is organized by material type series except for series 3-5 which are organized by the subject/creator of the material. Subjects and Indexing Terms Boisjoly, R. M., (Roger M.), 1938- -- History Cook, Richard C., 1946- Maier, Mark, Ph.D., Prof., (John Marcus) Challenger (Spacecraft) -- Accidents Faculty papers

Box 1-3 Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident. 1986 Language of Material: English Physical Description: 3.75 Linear feet(3 file boxes) Scope and Contents note Box 1) 10 video cassettes, Presidential Commission Hearings (4 VHS, 6 3/4" tapes) 2/25/1986, 7 video cassettes, Presidential Commission Hearings (4 VHS, 3 3/4" tapes) 2/26/1986 Box 2) 3 3/4" video cassettes, Presidential Commission Hearings 2/26/1986, 4 3/4" video cassettes, Presidential Commission Hearings 2/27/1986, 1 printed copy, Presidential Commission Report Vol. IV, pg. 1-321, 1986, 1 printed copy, Presidential Commission Report Vol. IV, pg. 322-588, 1986, 1 printed copy, Presidential Commission Report Vol. IV, pg. 589-823, 1986, 1 printed copy, Presidential Commission Report Vol. V, pg. 824-1077, 1986, 1 printed copy, Presidential Commission Report Vol. V, pg. 1364-1703, 1986, 1 printed copy, Presidential Commision Report, Vol. II, Appendix E-J, 1986, 1 printed copy, excerpts of Presidential Commission Report 1986, Box 3) 3 VHS video cassettes, Presidential Commission Hearings 2/27/1986, 1 3/4" video cassette, Presidential Commission Hearings 4/3/1986, Subjects and Indexing Terms Challenger (Spacecraft) -- Accidents

Box 3, 4 Challenger Disaster Videos. 1985-2006 Language of Material: English Physical Description: 2.5 Linear feet(2 file boxes) Scope and Contents note Box 3) 7 3/4" video cassettes, misc. NASA footage 1985-1986, 11 video cassettes, Challenger disaster television programs (10 VHS, 1 3/4" tape) 1985-2006, Box 4) 3 3/4" video cassettes, Challenger disaster program, "A Major Malfunction" Subjects and Indexing Terms Challenger (Spacecraft) -- Accidents

Finding Aid for the Mark Maier 2010.02.r 3 NASA Challenger Disaster Collection 2010.02.r Roger Boisjoly Interviews and Lectures. 1986-2002

Box 4, 5 Roger Boisjoly Interviews and Lectures. 1986-2002 Language of Material: English Physical Description: 1.67 Linear feet(1 file box, 1 document box) Scope and Contents note Box 4) 24 video cassettes, Roger Boisjoly interviews and lectures (22 VHS, 2 3/4" tapes) 1986-2002 Box 5) Folder 1. 2 transcripts, Roger Boisjoly interviews 1989, Folder 2. 2 articles, Roger Boisjoly 1987, 1989 Subjects and Indexing Terms Boisjoly, R. M., (Roger M.), 1938- Challenger (Spacecraft) -- Accidents

Box 5 Richard Cook Interviews and Articles. 1986-1991 Language of Material: English Physical Description: 0.417 Linear feet(1 document box) Scope and Contents note Box 5) 1 3/4" video cassette, Richard Cook Commission testimony 1986 Folder 3) 1 photograph, Richard Cook 1990, 1 magazine, The Washington Monthly November 1986, 2 articles, Richard Cook 1986, 2 transcripts, Richard Cook interviews 1991, Misc. typed notes, Richard Cook 1985-1990 Subjects and Indexing Terms Cook, Richard C., 1946- Challenger (Spacecraft) -- Accidents

Box 5, Folder 4 Mark Maier Challenger Disaster Papers. 1987-2003 Language of Material: English Physical Description: 0.25 Linear feet(1 folder, 1 object) creator: Maier, Mark, Ph.D., Prof., (John Marcus) Scope and Contents note Box 5) O-Ring Sample, 3 booklets, "A Major Malfunction..." material 1992-2003 Folder 4) 1 article, "The Engineer's Responsibility for Safety: Intergrating Ethics Teaching Into Courses in Engineering Design" by Caroline Whitbeck 1987 Subjects and Indexing Terms Challenger (Spacecraft) -- Accidents

Box 6 Space Shuttle Challenger Ephemera. Bulk, 1986 1986-1991 Language of Material: English Physical Description: 0.25 Linear feet(1 flat box) Scope and Contents note Box 6) License plate, Florida with Challenger image, 9 posters, misc. Space Shuttle Challenger images Subjects and Indexing Terms Challenger (Spacecraft) -- Accidents

Finding Aid for the Mark Maier 2010.02.r 4 NASA Challenger Disaster Collection 2010.02.r