Brazil Space Rocket Explodes, Kills 19

This is a setback for Brazil's space program:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...razil_space_dc

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.

The disaster ended Brazil's third attempt to fulfill a long-held
dream of becoming a space power.

[ more at link ]

As a collective, "oops", rises from those watching in Brazilian Mission
Control.

--

"cndc" wrote in message
...
This is a setback for Brazil's space program:


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...razil_space_dc

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.

The disaster ended Brazil's third attempt to fulfill a long-held
dream of becoming a space power.

[ more at link ]

"Skorpious"
As a collective, "oops", rises from those watching in Brazilian Mission
Control.

The news clip just shows a cloud that looks like a volcanic Mount Pinatubo in
the distance. At first I figured the thing fired, and then I though nah that
can't be it; it must have detonated. Which is a bad thing because solid rocket
fuel give off a lot of energy when it detonates. But neither one seems likely,
and I'm back to thinking it was fired. One or the other anyway. Very
unfortunate.

The news pics don't allow for judging the scale of the rocket, but according to
the specs it is on the small side. Lots smaller than an SRB.

Thx as always to astronautix.com

http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/vls.htm

"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

But is this not the second or third time this rocket has blown up due to
various reasons? maybe it is related to that big Russian one that never
really made it?

I'd have thought that they could have been able to build an existing design
under license over there.

Brian

--
Brian Gaff....
graphics are great, but the blind can't hear them
Email:
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"Skorpious" wrote in message
...
| As a collective, "oops", rises from those watching in Brazilian Mission
| Control.
|
| --
|
| "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.
|
| The disaster ended Brazil's third attempt to fulfill a long-held
| dream of becoming a space power.
|
| [ more at link ]
|
|


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