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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What happens when a shuttle reaches 4,000 feet before landing?

2. What color of cover did the commission vote on to have on the report?

3. What is the name of Richard's sister's son that he mentions in Check Six?

4. In Fantastic Figures, what was the name of the Thiokol manager who testified at a meeting of the commission?

5. How does Richard describe how the shuttle gets into orbit?

Short Essay Questions

1. Which two groups did Richard spend his time helping, and which group was the one that he helped the most during the investigation?

2. What was the rumor as to why NASA tried to make the shuttle fly in spite of the cold?

3. What did one of the reporters from the MacNeil/Lehrer Newshour say to Richard that provided an "out" for the situation he put himself in by mistakenly providing the reporters with a copy of his report?

4. When the astronauts know where they're supposed to land, they have to push one of three buttons. What are these buttons for?

5. When Richard left the meeting with engineers discussing the shuttle engines, what was the definite impression that he had about their situation?

6. What did the JPL engineers tell Richard that some of the people that worked on the engines always did on each flight?

7. What was the commission originally going to do when they first arrived in Florida, and why was it changed?

8. If a section of the shuttle needed to be reshaped a little bit and the hanging method had already been used, what method would then be used?

9. What was Richard's impression about what was going to happen with the commission getting together at one point?

10. What was the main thing Richard said he learned during the first official meeting of the commission?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the afterthoughts of the book, Richard states that he invented a theory of what led to the lack of communication in NASA. Expound on the thoughts that Richard has about his theory that he came up with and on what his friends thing about his theory. Describe your thoughts on Richard's theory. Use specific information from the book to include in your description and thoughts.

Essay Topic 2

Describe who Frances and Chuck were and what influence they had on Richard. Why was it beneficial to Richard to know and be in contact with Frances? Are there any negative results of Richard being related to someone in the press? If so, why? Expound on these answers and use specific information from the book to support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

Describe the events of the O-ring ice water demonstration that Richard performs at one of the meetings of the commission. What objects did Richard need to complete this demonstration and why did he need those particular objects?

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