RIP Bob Ebeling

[Thumper]

The Thiokol engineer who argued to postpone the ill fated Challenger mission has passed away. He was overcome with guilt for 30 years, that he didn't do more to prevent the launch. He was ostracized by his fellow employees. On the 30th anniversary of the disaster, NPR again interviewed him, he was one of the first people after the explosion that shared NASA and Thiokol knew the risks of launching in the cold ahead of time.
It was a heartbreaking interview showing a broken man overcome with guilt. People across the country heard the interview and were moved to tears. They wrote him letters trying to reassure him that he wasn't a failure and had done all he could to stop the launch. It wasn't enough. He had never heard such words from his supervisors at Thiokol or NASA. So they and the reporters contacted those people who went on record absolving Ebeling of any guilt. Even current NASA administrator issued a statement praising him and his colleagues and said we honor the fallen astronauts by remaining vigilant.

It greatly relieved Ebeling according to his daughter.

[Sigma_Orionis]

At least he got some vindication in the end.

[Thumper]

Hopefully, he found some peace. Can you imagine living for 30 years believing you were personally responsible for the deaths of seven extraordinary people? I don't remember him from the initial investigation. But when I read the interview with him for the 30th, it brought me to tears, as did the follow up story about the outpouring of support, as did this story about his passing. I was also touched by his volunteer work after he retired from Thiokol.
One of the good guys.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Yeah