[jpsb]

The Apollo program killed astronauts once and damn near killed astronauts twice.

The Shuttle accidents were entirely preventable. 1) do not launch the shuttle if it is covered with ice sickles. 2) Use the good foam not the environmentally friendly foam. Problem solved.

[Rockingham]

Experts in organizational behavior cite the two lost Shuttles as examples of the insidious consequences of "defining deviancy down." Over time, as risks did not lead to disaster, NASA became more willing to endure risks, rather like someone repeatedly walking on thin ice.

A similar process took place on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf. Alarms were deliberately turned off to permit workers to sleep. BP was also said to have progressively developed a company culture that disregarded safety issues.

In contrast, the fatal Apollo 1 pad fire and the Apollo 13 near loss seem to have had more to do with the unprecedented and rushed nature of the entire Moon program.