Скачать или смотреть Episode 07 - The Engineer Who Tried to Save Columbia: Inside NASA's Most Devastating Silence

In this powerful episode of Headline Podcast, hosts Andreza Araújo and Dr. Megan Tranter sit down with Rodney Rocha, the NASA Chief Engineer whose 52-year career included one of the most heartbreaking chapters in space exploration history.

On January 16, 2003, Space Shuttle Columbia launched on what appeared to be a routine mission. But the next day, Rodney received a phone call that would change everything: a piece of foam insulation had struck the shuttle's left wing during launch. As Chief Structural Engineer at Johnson Space Center, Rodney immediately recognized the potential danger and began what would become a desperate 16-day fight to get the images and attention needed to assess the damage.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

The Untold Story of Columbia's Final Days - Rodney takes us inside the debris assessment team meetings, the urgent emails that went unanswered, and the systematic silencing of engineers who tried to raise the alarm.

Psychological Safety in High-Stakes Environments - How organizational culture and fear of speaking up can have devastating consequences, even in organizations built on precision and safety.

The Evolution of NASA's Safety Culture - What changed after Columbia, and how the lessons learned continue to shape safety practices in aerospace and beyond.

Leadership Under Pressure - The difficult dynamics between technical experts and program managers when cost, schedule, and safety collide.

Speaking Truth to Power - Why creating environments where people feel safe to voice concerns isn't just good management it's a matter of life and death.

Rodney's story has become a cornerstone case study in organizational behavior, taught in business schools and safety programs worldwide. His experience demonstrates how even the most qualified experts can be marginalized by institutional pressure, and why psychological safety remains one of the most critical factors in preventing disasters.

This conversation goes beyond the technical details of the Columbia accident to explore the human elements that contributed to the tragedy: communication breakdowns, cultural barriers, and the courage it takes to keep speaking up when no one wants to listen.

About Our Guest:
Rodney Rocha served NASA for 52 years as Chief Structural Engineer and Chairman of the Space Shuttle Loads & Dynamics Panel. He was responsible for critical shuttle systems including structures, thermal protection, landing gear, and life support systems. His attempts to secure satellite imagery of Columbia's damage have been extensively documented in the Columbia Accident Investigation Board Report and continue to be studied as a case study in organizational communication and safety culture.

📌 About the Hosts:
Dr. Megan Tranter and Andreza Araújo are globally recognized voices on leadership, safety, and culture, helping purpose-driven professionals lead with clarity and impact.

Contact Andreza: https://andrezaaraujo.com/en/
Contact Megan: http://megantranter.com/

🌎 Broadcast from Seattle and Florida.
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