Unit III Essay
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Dec 6, 2023
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Uploaded by csimmons2002
Unit III Film Essay – Problem Solving and Apollo 13
The film “Apollo 13” the astronauts faced the daunting realization that if the problems they faced
were not solved, they would certainly die.
They faced the facts that without succeeding in
conquering the problem, they would either die in space, or die upon re-entry to earth.
The
problem they faced was that their spacecraft was damaged, they had very limited resources, a
limited and dwindling power supply and very little food/water for sustenance until they could get
back home.
Although it was flown as a single ship, the Apollo spacecraft was made up of two
independent spacecraft that were joined together: one was the orbiter Odyssey, and the other was
the lander Aquarius. The crew lived in Odyssey on the journey to the moon while the Aquarius
was to be used to land on the moon.
The Apollo crew were two days into their mission when things began to go wrong, causing a
systematic and potentially catastrophic failure of the ships systems.
One of the crew members
noticed a low pressure warning light come on for the hydrogen tank located on the Odyssey.
The
light could have meant a couple of different things, ranging from a legitimate problem to the gas
in the tanks needing to be circulated to prevent a “layering” effect.
Upon flipping the switch to initiate the tank stirring, the felt the spacecraft shutter as system
warning began indicating a drop in oxygen pressure as well as a power outage.
At that time, the
spacecraft was “dead” in space with only limited means of survival.
The planned lunar landing
was aborted as the crew lead radioed back to mission control in Houston, Texas that there was a
problem.
The official recording of what was actually said and what was said in the movie are
two different, but similar phrases…but that is for a different discussion.
After contacting mission control, both the shuttle team and NASA in Houston had to act quickly
and brilliantly, yet systematically to ensure the crew’s safe return home.
This is exactly what the
brightest minds in the world at the time did.
They prioritized the problems from gravest to
minimal and attacked them one by one.
This process along with the astronauts will and
determination, returned the men back to earth safely.
In my professional life, I was recently presented with a problem of sorts that I could certainly
apply Chaffee’s five step approach to problem solving
(
Chaffe, J. (n.d.). Thinking critically a
Concise Guide).
First, I had to identify what the problem was.
In this case, I was presented with a project
superintendent on his way up the company ladder that presented himself as if he did not need to
The alternative to addressing the problem was to let him do whatever he wanted with regards to
safety and health matters.
The advantage to letting him do whatever was I could not and would not be held accountable for
shortcomings safety wise on the project given he was a superintendent and would be responsible
for any shortcoming or failed audits.
The disadvantage to that would have been that I am the
Manager responsible for safety and health and would have to deal with any problems either way.
I determined the solution to be along the lines of a blunt yet respectful discussion on my
expectations as a member of management and that I expected him to, at minimum, confer with
me on all decisions related to occupational safety and health.
The solution is working wonderfully.
Although there are times of contention, the executive level
support I have backing me, ensures that as long as our working agreement holds, there is no
issues at all.
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