Were the O-Rings cheap, or just poorly designed?
the O rings where cold.
IIRC, NASA wanted to use a liquid booster, but the solid boosters were manufactured in Walter Mondale’s district, so that’s what they had to use.
I heard that Morton Thiokol Engineers stated that Columbia had 33% chance to fail upon lift due to the cold temperatures. BEFORE Columbia lifted off.
They were excused from the meeting and the managers took over and gave NASA the OK to launch.
I could be wrong though but I heard that in an engineering meeting back in the day.
They were not designed to be launched in below freezing temperature.
Engineers warned the head of NASA that it was too cold. He said that if they didn't launch, they were all fired.
He had a Doctorate in Education. Did not have any background in technical fields.
He also had the unfettered authority to order a launch.