First, Aldrich heard the analysis from a team of NASA engineers: based on their calculations of wind speed, fragmentation, and debris trajectory, they felt good about the ice; it was unlikely to cause significant damage. They gave their go-ahead for launch, as soon as the air temperature rose above 31 degrees Fahrenheit. But when he turned to Rocco Petrone’s men, they passed on the message from their boss: the situation was unpredictable, and unlike anything they’d seen before, said one. The other was more direct. “Rockwell cannot assure that it is safe to fly,” he said.
