Explosion/deaths @ Mojave Air/Space-port

[docm]

2 killed/4 injured at the rocket test stand.<br /><br />This Scaled's home airport.<br /><br />A Scaled truck is near the scene.<br /><br />Developing......<br /><br />EDIT<br /><br />http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_6471816<br /><br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>2 killed in explosion at Mojave airport, others injured<br /><br />The Associated Press<br /><br />Article Launched: 07/26/2007 03:49:52 PM PDT<br /><br />MOJAVE, Calif.—Two people were killed and four others injured Thursday by an explosion at a Mojave Desert airport that is home to pioneering civilian rocket programs, authorities said.<br /><br />Wreckage of equipment and vehicles could be seen in an overhead view of the site broadcast by a KCAL-TV news helicopter.<br /><br />A sign on a truck behind a bunker had the name Scaled. Scaled Composites is the Mojave-based builder of SpaceShipOne, the first private manned rocket to reach space.<br /><br />"Reports are two fatalities and at least four critical injuries," said Kern County fire Capt. Doug Johnston, who was not at the scene.<br /><br />A call seeking comment from the airport manager was not immediately returned.<br /><br />It was not immediately clear what caused the blast, which happened around 2:45 p.m. in a remote section of the Mojave Air and Space Port, said Tony Diffenbaugh, an inspector with the Kern County Fire Department.<br /><br />Kern County fire crews and bomb experts were en route to the scene, where there was concern that airport personnel could be exposed to hazardous materials, said sheriff's Deputy Martinez.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[nwade]

Just saw a video stream on CNN.com.<br /><br />It was definitely the Scaled composites test stand that went up. 2 deaths confirmed, multiple injuries. Looks like something happened with the NO tanks or a hybrid rocket motor during a test-fire.<br /><br />Please keep the Scaled team in your thoughts and prayers tonight.<br /><br />--Noel<br />

 

[docm]

It's all over Fox News and it was an SS2 engine. It's a real mess.<br /><br />Sounds like a ruptured NOx tank;<br /><br />http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/ViewPost/26187<br /><br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Breaking News: Two dead in explosion at Mojave Airport<br /><br />By: Carin Enovijas, Tehachapi News Editor<br /><br />Two are confirmed dead following a nitrous oxide "flash explosion" that occurred at Mojave Airport at approximately 2:30 p.m., according to airport security officials. Four others have been flown to Kern Medical Center and treated for chemical exposure and other unspecified injuries. Their condition is unknown and no identities have been released at this time.<br /><br />The explosion occurred at a sublet testing facility on the airport property.<br />More information will be posted as it becomes available<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[nwade]

Could be over-pressurization, overheating of the tank (the gas needs to be hot for the Hybrid rocket to work), could be something obstructed the nozzle during a test-fire... The fact is that we won't know until an official report or company statement comes out - so speculating on the cause of the incident is just that: speculation.<br /><br />Its more productive to give your support to the Scaled personnel and anyone else involved in the accident (whether through prayer, donations, letters of sympathy, or whatever your method of choice is). <br /><br />--Noel<br />

 

[propforce]

A sober reminder that this is still a dangerous business afterall. <br /><br />God bless those who are hurt and the family of those who're unfortunately deceased. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[centsworth_II]

<font color="yellow">"The business of space will be hazardous for a long time."</font><br /><br />Forever. Like the business of fireworks. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[frodo1008]

Indeed, sympathy and prayers to all those involved!<br /><br />I am sometimes amazed by the lack of understanding of how little is still known about some of these very high energy chemicals, and how incredibly dangerous it can be to handle them! <br /><br />I remember that just before I got to start work at the Components Test Lab #4 in the rocket engine testing area at Santa Susana in the mid 1960's, some workers were performing a cleaning operation on a Nitrogen Tetroxide (N2O4) tank using trichoethylene. This had been done many times before this safely. However, on this particular occasion there was some kind of explosive jelling that took place in the tank. Of the five guys in the test cell, two were instantly blown apart, and the other three were seriously hurt. I even met one of these people sometime afterwards and saw just some of the two hundred plus stitches in his body! Needless to say, this particular procedure was never done again!<br /><br />And this kind of industry is STILL evidently very, very dangerous!<br /><br />

 

[radarredux]

> <i><font color="yellow">2 killed/4 injured at the rocket test stand.</font>/i><br /><br />D@mn. I've been saying for a while that one of Scaled/Virgin's early challenges would be dealing with the first deaths, but I never expected it to be so soon.</i>

 

[nuaetius]

http://cbs2.com/<br /><br />Link to video of the scene.<br /><br />The two that where injured are probably burned, god I hope they are minor burns.

 

[henryhallam]

Very sad news.

 

[SpaceKiwi]

This is extremely sad news, and my thoughts go out to the Scaled Composites family.<br /><br />Without hearing or seeing the details of this accident, I guess I'm a little surprised to hear of any fatalities surrounding the test-firing of a rocket motor. Is it not SOP to be well away from the motor during any kind of test firing, or did this explosion take out the secure C&C bunker?<br /><br />I guess I'm reminded a little of that Soviet accident where the engineers were sitting on chairs way too close.<br /><br />Very sad indeed. <img src="/images/icons/frown.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em><font size="2" color="#ff0000">Who is this superhero?  Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!</font></em></p><p><em><font size="2">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</font></em></p><p><font size="5">Bring Back The Black!</font></p> </div>

 

[nuaetius]

Bunker is about 50 yards away in the video and doesn't look effected. Looks like a burnt out tanker truck so it might have happened during refueling.

 

[nwade]

Also, one of the quotes out on the wire is that it was supposed to be a "cold fire" test. That's not a real technical/precise term, but its possible that people were only expecting a cold gas-flow test through the engine system; but of course now I'm venturing into the realm of speculation myself.<br /><br />--Noel<br />

 

[robotical]

My thoughts go out to the Scaled team. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[jimfromnsf]

Hubris caught up with Mr. Rutan. Maybe now he will tone down his criticism of NASA and the USAF. The first death at the Cape didn't happen until 1958 (8 years after the 1st launch), and it was an construction worker. The first deaths cause by processing spaceflight hardware was in 1964.

 

[SpaceKiwi]

Aaaaah, thanks guys. I had incorrectly assumed a hot fire test was being undertaken.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em><font size="2" color="#ff0000">Who is this superhero?  Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!</font></em></p><p><em><font size="2">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</font></em></p><p><font size="5">Bring Back The Black!</font></p> </div>

 

[Boris_Badenov]

<font color="yellow"> Hubris caught up with Mr. Rutan. </font><br /><br />Seeing you spew tasteless criticism after a tragic accident doesn't surprise me in the least.<br /><br />My condolences go out to the families of those lost. I pray for the speedy & complete recovery of those that were injured. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>

 

[holmec]

Absolutely. Be strong guys.<br /><br />Any word on who the victims were? (ie names) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[holmec]

CNN has a video showing aftermath. It looks like they were conducting, or getting ready to conduct a test fire. The area was away from buildings. Test fire rig is toast as well as several cars.<br /><br />http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/07/26/spaceport.blast/index.html#cnnSTCText <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[holmec]

This is not the first death in Rutan's team. During the time they working on SS1, one of his team had a fatal airplane accident. It kindof resonates of the airplane accident of the two astronauts that occured in St Louis, way back when. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[jimfromnsf]

"Seeing you spew tasteless criticism <br /><br />It is not tasteless. Rutan criticizes NASA for losing astronauts, why should he be above recieving it for his faults.

 

[holmec]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>It is not tasteless. Rutan criticizes NASA for losing astronauts, why should he be above recieving it for his faults. <p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />Dude...Everyone has their idiosyncrosies. While I don't like what Rutan says about NASA....I just put it behind me and forget it. Rutan is learning like NASA has learned. Just let him catch up.<br /><br />Rutan has to make the system safe, even more safe than NASA because its for the public, not for exploration. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[j05h]

Sad news. The pictures show one of their test trailers on it's side and a teststand knocked over. <br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div align="center"><em>We need a first generation of pioneers.</em><br /></div> </div>

 

[Boris_Badenov]

<font color="yellow"> It is not tasteless. Rutan criticizes NASA for losing astronauts, why should he be above recieving it for his faults. </font><br /><br />To use the deaths of these people to criticize a third person on the day of their deaths, where their families might participate in the discussions is the behavior of a callous insensitive person. <br />You disgust me. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>

 

[j05h]

<i>> That phrase was used with early SS1 tests? </i><br /><br />I think they used "cold flow test" as a term during SS1 testing. Something like that, during capture-carry and maybe a drop test?<br /><br />Rocketry is extremely dangerous. Some call it "plumbing with the volume turned up" - this is extremely correct. Similar to old-time steam power, the working materials of rocketry are simply dangerous. I admire anybody who does this above the hobby level - newsartist is right, they are all brave folk. <br /><br />Jon Goff posted on NSF that he saw the plume but didn't hear the explosion, and that it was near XCOR's facility.<br /><br />Josh <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div align="center"><em>We need a first generation of pioneers.</em><br /></div> </div>