University Engineering Ethics: NASA Case Study and Whistleblowing

This assignment presents an engineering ethics case study based on a scenario at NASA involving the Space Shuttle Columbia. The student, acting as an engineer on the Debris Assessment Team (DAT), identifies a potential safety risk related to surface area disputes causing increased air drag. Despite reporting the issue and providing supporting documentation, the student's concerns are dismissed by their manager. The assignment requires the student to write a letter to the NASA Headquarters, acting as a whistleblower, to report the unethical practice and potential risks associated with the issue. The student references the NSPE code of ethics to justify their actions and highlight the ethical dilemma. The assignment covers the identification of the ethical dilemma, the application of the NSPE code of ethics, and the importance of professional obligations in engineering.

Running head: ENGINEERING IN SOCIETY
Engineering in Society
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

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Part 1:
Link of the authority: https://www.nasa.gov/centers/hq/home/index.html
It is an ethical dilemma in DAT assessment reporting system under the authority of NASA
[1]. As per the ethical standards of engineering any act of error should be reported to the
higher authority and therefore, in this case the higher authority is the NASA Headquarter.
Hence, NASA Headquarter has been chosen in this letter as an authority to report.
Part 2:
Student xxxxx0 : Address : Contact number : email@id
March 4th 2020
To,
The director
NASA Headquarter
300 E. Street SW, Suite 5R30
Washington, DC 20546
Subject: Unethical Practice
I am one of the team member engineer of the Debris Assessment Team (DAT). Our team
DAT is currently working on the additional data and imagery as well as visual investigation
based assessment for the space shuttle Colombia. It is known to all that our space shuttle has
successfully completed 27 missions and now the shuttle is under assessment pre-preparation
phase, where we are working on finding any risk factor that can cause any level of damage to
the shuttle and the crew members during flight. As standard instruction manual we have

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started out visual inspection from the surface layer investigation of the shuttle that includes
stating surface areas as well as surface control areas such as aileron, flaps, elevators, spoilers,
slats and others.
From the past week visual investigation and documented calibration data we found that due
to some uneven surface area or a possible disputes in frontal surface area the air drag level is
high in some specific positions. It is a sign of dispute in surface area which should be
considered under the repair procedures. According to the code of ethics of National Society
of Professional Engineers under professional obligation, Engineers shall acknowledge their
errors and shall not distort or alter the facts. In accordance with this standard I documented
this error with evidences and present the report to the manager. The risk factor associated
with this type of surface area dispute are major. It can increase the air drag while launching
and the increased drag on that particular surface area that can cause additional thermal
exposure. Otherwise, it can open up the internal insulation material such as foam, and that
can cause excessive thermal generation while damaging other surface area such as fuselage
extensions and wings. According to NSPE rules of practice employer or client as faithful
agents or trustees as an Engineer I shall disclose all known or potential conflicts of interest
that could influence or appear to influence the quality of our services. I requested to add this
report in the final assessment document and to take this fact under the process of repairing.
However, my requests was continuously denied. On the other hand, as a member of DAT we
do not have any clear line of authority to report this issue to the mission management team.
As third professional obligation of
As an engineers I shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner as per
the NSPE rule of practice, I have all the required documentation with visual image of
calibration report that can support this risk factor. I am highly worried about this risk factor
which can not only cause the incident but also it can cause huge financial and physical loss

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and the loss of the organisational reputation. I am very hopeful that the authority will take
necessary actions as soon as possible to avoid this risk factor.
Thanking you,
Student xxxxxxx0

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References
[1]Nspe.org, "Code of Ethics | National Society of Professional Engineers", Nspe.org, 2018.
[Online]. Available: https://www.nspe.org/resources/ethics/code-ethics. [Accessed: 04- Mar-
2020].