Sen. Jake Garn, R-Utah, savored Thiokol Corp.'s rise from terrible disaster to victory at a ceremony Monday in which the highest NASA quality award was presented to the aerospace company.
"It's been six years since we all suffered the tragedy of the Challenger accident," he said, referring to the January 1986 explosion caused by a Thiokol booster that killed seven space shuttle astronauts.Garn, who flew once in a space shuttle mission, recalled the "incredibly unfair criticism that was directed at Thiokol." He was offended, he said, by politicians "looking for scapegoats."
Sounding triumphant, Garn added that with the presentation to Thiokol Space Operations of the George M. Low Trophy, "I can now go back to some of those politicians and say, `I told you so.' "
The trophy is presented annually to NASA contractors who demonstrate the highest degree of quality throughout their organizations and achieve sustained excellence. The 1991 award went to Thiokol's Space Operations, based in Brigham City, and Grumman Technical Services of Titusville, Fla.
NASA administrator Richard H. Truly presented the gleaming trophy during a ceremony attended by about 2,500 Thiokol workers, retirees and others in the cavernous new Segment Processing Facility. Huge banners decorated the walls, including one 20 feet tall showing the trophy's medallion.
Truly, a former astronaut who went into space in 1981 in a shuttle lifted mostly by two Thiokol boosters, began his speech with a quote from a cigarette advertisement: "You've come a long way, Baby."
"Instead of seeing obstacles, Thiokol has seen opportunities for improvement. You have focused on the positive and vigorously attacked problems and found solutions," he said.
He said Thiokol set high standards, rigorously measured its performance and committed itself to strengthening its products. "We put your products to the ultimate test with every launch."
Speaking to reporters later, Truly denied any direct connection between the Challenger explosion and the award. Since the accident, 19 space shuttles have been launched, and every time the twin Thiokol boosters performed as expected.
"The Challenger accident was behind me when we flew the first flight (after the accident)," Truly said. "In my own mind, I've long since put the accident behind me."
He said Thiokol and NASA have good relations, "and I don't see anything on the radar screen that could make me think that would change."
Asked about the Advanced Solid Rocket Motors - which are being developed by another company and will eventually replace Thiokol's solid rocket boosters - Truly said the new motors would be phased in starting in the late 1990s. Thiokol would make their nozzles.
During the ceremony, Gov. Norm Bangerter said the award is a great tribute to Thiokol's professional team. Utahns enjoy seeing Thiokol win it, he said.
"Thiokol's been a good friend to Utah," he said.
"I feel that all of Utah should be very proud of all you folks," said Rep. Jim Hansen, R-Utah. "We have people with a great work ethic."
Robert V. Caine, president of the American Society for Quality Control, said Thiokol was "competing with the best of the best."
"You really changed adversity into success. You accomplished an amazing miracle here in Utah," said NASA safety official George A. Rodney.
Astronaut David Low, son of George M. Low, said he has twice gone to space on shuttles lifted by "your quality boosters . . . And believe me, it was an incredible ride." He said he hopes he can take one more ride.
Thiokol's chairman, U. Edwin Garrison, said the award "validates the path we at Thiokol have taken, along with our partners, NASA." The company intends to actively participate in America's future space success, he added.
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(Additional story)
Mars or bust
Despite financial woes in which NASA's budget has leveled off, the space agency still wants people to go where no one has gone before.
Asked by the Deseret News whether a mission to Mars is still favored by NASA, the administrator, Richard H. Truly, replied, "I don't think there's any question that in the next century an expedition to Mars is going to be mounted." He said he doubts any other country is capable of making the trip.
"I think it would be terrible if this nation lowered its sights on discoveries and adventures," he said. To do so because of the present budget problems would be "unconscionable," he added.