Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster Analysis

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, it makes sense to split the cost between many players. The cost is lowered, while the use of the facility, or the utility as the authors describe it, increases. This is of course recognizing potential higher overhead costs associated with any diplomatic activities. “Reason #2: International Cooperation Generates Diplomatic Prestige.” Prestige in diplomacy can also be seen as a type of currency like discussed above. As the ISS was seen as a technical feat that only a few nations participated in, the prestige garnered was immense. The authors give an example of India. If India were to ask to join, and were accepted into a joint U.S. space program, it would send a signal to every other nation that the US and India are on good, solid diplomatic terms. It would also allow India to claim a certain level of prestige for …show more content…
If a shuttle with foreign astronauts fails, and those on board lose their life, diplomacy too continues, although on a much more careful level in order to initiate constructive and transparent dialogue with those nations. This is crucial as those nations will be looking for answers as to what occurred. The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986, exemplified some of these concerns, although the crew themselves were American, therefore there is not an intense need for diplomatic dialogue between the U.S. and the international community. However, in 2003 with the failure of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, seven astronauts were on board as it reentered the atmosphere and began to disintegrate. Two of the astronauts, Kalpana Chawla was Indian-born, and Ilan Ramon, who was Israeli born. Diplomacy here, is crucial in finding out answers to what occurred and what caused the Space Shuttle Columbia