Richard Feynman (for Challenger disaster investigation)

Richard Feynman, a renowned physicist, played a crucial role in investigating the Challenger space shuttle disaster in 1986. He famously demonstrated how the O-rings, crucial for sealing the shuttle's joints, lost their flexibility in cold temperatures, contributing to the catastrophic failure. Feynman's hands-on approach, including a simple test using ice water, highlighted the importance of materials science and communication in engineering. His insistence on transparency and accountability shed light on the flaws in NASA's decision-making process, emphasizing the need for engineers to voice concerns over safety, ultimately shaping future protocols in aerospace and engineering disciplines.