THIOKOL refused to OK the Launch due Weather. "Light this Candle" (Alan Shephard). They launched, and Thiokol, though grim, dodged a bullet.
The Launch was manslaughter. (Challenger Hearings, Feynman).
bear
Actually Thiokol -engineers- said no but were overuled by Thiokol -managers- and NASA in the infamous conference call.
The point though is that like the UAS the O ring erosion was a known issue that was swept under the rug with "nothing bad has happened" etc.
BTWW Same thing for tile damage from foam shedding from the external tank, that is the really tragic one since NASA reverted to their old behavior of justifying exceptions since they had not caused problems in the past.