Allan J. McDonald

Allan J. McDonald
Allan J. McDonald in 2012
Born(1937-06-09)June 9, 1937
Cody, Wyoming, US
DiedMarch 6, 2021(2021-03-06) (aged 83)
Ogden, Utah, US
NationalityAmerican
Alma materMontana State University
University of Utah

Allan James McDonald (July 9, 1937 – March 6, 2021) was an American engineer, aerospace consultant and author.[1] He was the director of the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Motor Project for Morton-Thiokol.

In January 1986, he refused to sign off on a launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger which broke apart 73 seconds into flight.[2]

McDonald died in Ogden, Utah at the age of 83 on March 6, 2021.[3] The cause of death was a cerebral hemorrhage caused by a fall.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Kandil, Caitlin Yoshiko (January 31, 2016). "Engineer who refused to OK Challenger launch report donates papers to Chapman University". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Engineer who opposed Challenger launch offers personal look at tragedy". NASA. October 5, 2012. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
  3. ↑ Risen, Clay (March 9, 2021). "Allan McDonald dies at 83; tried to stop the Challenger launch". The New York Times. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  4. ↑ Berkes, Howard (March 7, 2021). "Remembering Allan McDonald: he refused to approve Challenger launch, exposed cover-up". NPR. Retrieved March 8, 2021.