§P415 Reading Assignment

Read the NASA Mars Climate Orbiter Mishap Investigation Board Phase I Report Be prepared to discuss this report in class.

P515 students. You may be asked to make a five-to-ten minute classroom presentation explaining the reading and lead a discussion. If asked, you are expected to make a cogent, concise presentation (not a casual extemporaneous narrative) so I recommend that you prepare a few notes. In making your presentation, you should assume that your audience has done the assigned reading; hence, it is not necessary to review the failure itself. Focus on causes and the chain of errors or events that led to the failure. Try to stick to the facts and defer (or avoid) editorial remarks and opinions.