Originally Posted by
Jwscud
Mike Mullane's excellent autobiography touched on this. RSOs did not socialise with astronauts to avoid clouding their judgement.
I thoroughly recommend "Riding Rockets" to anyone interested in the shuttle or aviation in general.
Interesting to note that originally there was a caution light in the shuttle showing when the RSO armed the self destruct. This was to indicate they should eject, when they took the seats out of the Columbia after the first four flights they left the light in (and in subsequent versions). Not a warning light you would like to see go off I imagine.
