"Brian Gaff" wrote in message ...
"cndc" wrote in message
...
| This is a setback for Brazil's space program:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...brazil_space_d
c
|
| BRASILIA, Brazil (Reuters) - A Brazilian rocket exploded on Friday
| and killed 19 people after an engine ignited by mistake days before
| a planned lift-off from a jungle launch site.
|
Blimey, how on earth can you start an engine by mistake... Seems to me they
need to get their safety culture sorted before they kill all their staff.


A solid motor was once started by mistake in the Cape Canaveral
Delta Spin Test Facility. Several people were in the building
at the time. The motor was said to have ignited due to a static
discharge that occurred when a plastic cover was being removed.
This happened even though the igniter was supposedly disarmed
and grounded. The motor was said to have bounced across the
ceiling, filling the room with superhot gases. Several died.
Those that survived suffered severe injuries.

- Ed Kyle