Robert Ebeling
contributorSafety, Investigation & Ethics
Morton Thiokol engineer who convened the prelaunch engineering discussion about Challenger's unusually cold conditions and warned that the solid rocket booster joints were outside their experience base.
- Primary role
- Solid rocket motor engineer and flight-safety advocate
- Lifespan
- 1926–2016
- Relationships
- 3
- Sources
- 3
Biography
Place in spaceflight history
Ebeling assembled engineers to evaluate low-temperature O-ring performance, communicated their concerns to Allan McDonald, and participated in the group that recommended against launching under the forecast conditions.
The Rogers Commission record of his actions shows that specific engineering concerns existed before launch even though the management process did not carry them into the final decision.
Robert Ebeling’s archive record spans Aerospace engineer, Ignition System and Final Assembly manager, Flight-safety advocate through work connected with Morton Thiokol. The linked record places that work within Space Shuttle.
Career profile
Roles, organizations, and programs
Roles
- Aerospace engineer
- Ignition System and Final Assembly manager
- Flight-safety advocate
Organizations
Programs
- Space Shuttle
Archive relationships
Named records, programs, and organizations connected to this archive identity.
Sources
Original references supporting this record. Each source opens on its publisher’s website.