When you hear the term “worst job in the world” you are going to conjure up a multitude of images. Those dealing with sewage, explosives, Britney Spears; the list goes on. So what would you say if I believed the worst job in the world belonged to one person working at NASA?
No, this person doesn’t work as a janitor, or with highly explosive fuels, or even radioactive materials. This person’s job consists of sitting at a panel, during a shuttle lift off, and checking to make sure that the Shuttle doesn’t tragically veer off course and threaten populated areas.
If the Shuttle does, however, this person’s job is to flick a pair of switches that will arm, and then detonate explosives attached to the fuel tanks lifting the shuttle in to space. It’s a failsafe measure that, when you think about it is entirely necessary, yet doesn’t take away the sheer weight of responsibility that must weigh on the shoulders of whoever mans those switches.
“If something happens when it’s just off the pad, there’s only a couple of seconds [to react],” says Bryan O’Connor, a former shuttle commander and NASA’s chief of safety and mission assurance.
The danger continues though, even after the craft is assured of not veering off course. If its flight controls or engines malfunction, toxic fuel and fast-moving debris could also threaten people below. The range safety officer is still on duty then, until about 2 minutes in to the flight, when the solid rocket boosters are spent of their fuel and drop away, taking the explosive charges with them.
Of course the problems do not stop there. However, if there are problems severe enough to threaten people on the ground there are two options for the crew of the shuttle to make.
First of all, if the shuttle is capable, they would enter a low Earth orbit and attempt to fly around the Earth for a landing at California’s Edwards Air Force Base. However, if that is not possible, they’re next option is only to ditch the shuttle in to the sea. The astronauts would have to ditch the aircraft at 20,000 feet armed only with parachutes, survival suits and individual rafts.
Thus, I challenge you to find another job in the world where the pressure and responsibility is as high and demanding as this.
Joshua Hill, a Geek’s-Geek from Melbourne, Australia, Josh is an aspiring author with dreams of publishing his epic fantasy, currently in the works, sometime in the next 5 years. A techie, nerd, sci-fi nut and bookworm.
