“For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled.” (This is a year of Feynman – week 15 of 52)

– Richard P. Feynman (11 May 1918 – 15 Feb 1988)

From the Manhattan Project to the Challenger investigation, the physicist and Nobel Laureate Richard Feynman loved to shoot down what he called “lousy ideas.” Today, the world is awash in lousy ideas — so maybe it’s time to get some more Feynman in our lives?

Credit: https://freakonomics.com/podcast/the-curious-mr-feynman/

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On 28 January 1986, the Challenger space shuttle and her seven-member crew were lost when a ruptured O-ring in the right solid rocket booster caused an explosion soon after launch. This photograph, taken a few seconds after the accident, shows the main engines and solid rocket booster exhaust plumes entwined around a ball of gas from the external tank. Because shuttle launches had become almost routine after 24 successful missions, those watching the shuttle launch in person and on television found the sight of the explosion especially shocking and difficult to believe until NASA confirmed the accident. Image # : 86-HC-220 Title: Exhaust Trail of STS-51-L.

Credit: By Kennedy Space Center – https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/10697912315/in/album-72157630719371642/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=530754

The Rogers Commission, in its published report, went easy on NASA, as President Reagan had asked. But the report did include an appendix written by Richard Feynman. He didn’t go easy on NASA. The quote is his final sentence from the report.

Stargazing Guy

“For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled.” (This is a year of Feynman – week 15 of 52)

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“For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled.” (This is a year of Feynman – week 15 of 52)

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