What Good Are Safety Rules If You Just Ignore Them?

Investigators: Launch put public at risk, Orlando Sentinel

“Everything appeared normal June 5, 2002, as shuttle Endeavour thundered to orbit from Kennedy Space Center through hazy afternoon skies. Unknown to the public, however, the Air Force’s top two safety officials at Cape Canaveral had tried to stop the countdown. Air Force technicians could not verify that a critical backup system used to destroy errant rockets was working properly. In an apparently unprecedented move, the safety officers were overruled after a phone conversation between Brig. Gen. Donald Pettit, commander of the Air Force’s 45th Space Wing, and KSC Director Roy Bridges. Endeavour launched minutes later in violation of flight rules designed to protect the public.”