This was during the "Faster, Better, Cheaper" era when staffing was cut and projects were being privatized and had to be done for cut rate costs. This video actually goes a lot into the details on what happened.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuYDkVRyMkg

The whole videos series of JPL and the Space Age is very enjoyable to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTiv_XWHnOZqFnWQs393R...