The bonus paid a week before the Challenger tragedy was payment for the successful Atlantis flight launched last Nov. 26. The last payment was made in June.
Most emphasis is placed on meeting cost and schedule requirements.
Barbara E. Selby, a spokeswoman at NASA headquarters in Washington, said there would be no response to the report. Selby also said details of contract negotiations between NASA and Morton Thiokol concerning redesign and testing costs for new equipment could not be revealed. Morton Thiokol will do for a newly designed solid-fuel rocket booster, according to Daniel R. Clough, deputy procurement director at Marshall. The Rogers Commission, which investigated the Challenger accident, concluded that it was caused by the failure in the rear seal of the right-side booster. However, a Morton Thiokol spokesman said Wednesday it may be difficult for NASA to penalize the company, on the basis of the contract.