I can't help but disagree. It's a sort of arrogance to remove the decision of how to face thier (possible) last bit of time from those most affected in the name of "sparing them"

 

Suppose I knew for certain the world was going to end next week. Would you like me to keep that information secret to "spare you" the anguish, so you can keep going to a now meaningless job (or whatever) in your last few days, or let you know so you could choose to spend your last bits of existence wrapping up your life in the way you yourself see fit?

 

Do you think the astronauts would be grateful, or angry and maybe resentful if they made it back and found out that critical information had been withheld from them? Would they have accepted it, or would there have been a meeting called from which nobody would leave unscathed?

 

Which result does this thread indicate?

 

I know that if I made it back and found out about it later, management would be hearing from me, most especially if I was the mission commander.

 

If "sparing them the anguish" is the correct moral choice, then why do doctors call families to gather in a patients final hours rather than "sparing" them?

The 'make it back' option wasn't available. At least when sticking to the article and the NASA guy's statements. That's where my questions starts. :smile:

Given the lack of sure knowledge about the extent of any possible damage, the make it back option has to remain plausibly on the table. And none of that invalidates the morality/immorality of it........

 

I acknowledge the temptation not to inform the crew, especially on the emotional level. But in the end, I just think its unfair.

 

It makes me wonder if mission control would have withheld the truth from Apollo 13 if there had been no hope.....

 

And wonder also how I might feel as an astronaut knowing that in the event of an unrecoverable fault that I myself did not detect, that my friends at NASA would just let me amble along happily unawares until the end.

 

The right stuff?

The linked article sets up this situation. If space shuttle is doomed, do you tell the crew?

 

Vanilla or chocolate ice cream? 'Strawberry!' is a nice and reasonable answer (we all know that strawberry rules ^_^ ), but it's not for this setup. And this limitation actually leads to the thoughts (and their weight) of the guys posting here. All of them are welcome.

But as I pointed out, even limiting the scenario does not change the morality/immorality of the decision; or the reasons why I believe its wrong, or even the majority of the examples of why I believe its wrong.

 

Out of all the people on that flight, surely there where some, or at least one who would have preferred to know and have the time to make their peace and say goodbye.

 

That choice may have been removed. For all of them.

 

Even in the mundane world you can call a priest in your final hours. What about this situation obviates the options of dignity and closure?

Don't worry, the viewpoint is appreciated.