In article , Brian Thorn wrote:
On 4 Dec 2003 18:04:18 GMT, Andrew Gray
wrote:


Okay. What was America's worst rocket related accident with the
greatest loss of life?

As part of the US space program?

Two technicians were killed in Columbia in March '81, although this
isn't really "rocket related".

Yes, it is. John Bjornstad and Forest Cole died either in Columbia's
Aft Compartment or in one of the Tail Service Masts at the launch pad,
depending on the source.

Jenkins says Aft Compartment, IIRC. (He didn't give the names, it took
me ages to find the reference.) - the compartment had been filled with
N2. (Is this common practice - a fire-retardant?)

(I interpreted "rocket related" as "in a rocket accident" - accidental
firing, pad explosion, that sort of thing, which is why the qualifier)

I have very hazy memories of a SRM test
which involved fatalities, and equally hazy ones involving someone dying
during VAB construction, but neither of these are sourceable.

The VAB construction fatalities (and a victim of lightning at Pad 39B)
are documented in "Moonport".

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/Hi...204/cover.html

Thankyou; I forgot that was on the web - I'd just been noting it was on
sale at Amazon, so I can only plead brainfart...

--
-Andrew Gray