Fatal Fire at Indian Space Center 51
JJP writes "The BBC reports that a fire has ripped through India's main space centre killing at least six people. Apparently an explosion triggered the fire at a solid propellant plant, where advanced rocket fuel is prepared. The fire at Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota is reported to be under control."
MC BC BKL MKL BK (Score:1)
Remember... (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Remember... (Score:5, Insightful)
Lots of fires in our early Rocket program, too (Score:5, Interesting)
I believe I speak for all space enthusiasts (ok this is unrealistic) when I offer our condolences on the tragic loss of life in India. Progress has costs, and hopefully the cost of these lives will buy improvements in the knowledge about, and operational safety with, rocket technologies.
"We choose to go to the moon and do these other things not because they are easy, but because they are hard." John Kennedy knew that it's important to dedicate onself to a noble task and boldly pursue it. I hope India's space program advances on those noble goals we all set, the lifting of humanity from the face of this humble rock to the place where the real action is, Space.
-- Kevin J. Rice
Re:Lots of fires in our early Rocket program, too (Score:5, Interesting)
I've read that the people who fueled these rockets had to know (a) exactly what to wear because some rubber was eaten by the acid and other protective gear was not, and (b) exactly which way the wind was blowing at all times so they could run upwind if there was a spillage. The stuff apparently became gaseous very quickly and a being in a cloud of nitric acid can ruin your whole day.
Re:Lots of fires in our early Rocket program, too (Score:2)
It definatly has to be handled with care. Nitric acid strongly attacks rubber skin, and metals. The fumes and gasses from reaction burn the eyes and lungs (easily causing a fatal chemical pneumonia). It's the same reaction that causes dry rot and causes proteins to turn yellow.
All of that is managable enough in small quantities to the point that it is safe enough to use in high school chemistry, but that's no more than a litre or 2. I can well imagine that a 50 or 100 gallon spill is a much different matt
I think... (Score:4, Informative)
I think this is actually their primary launch facility, not the main center of the program. Presumably that's why it's on an island. Tragic, at any rate.
Re:I think... (Score:2)
However, if an accident like this was going to happen (and it seems like many accidents of this type were often "waiting to happen") I think it is better for their space program to have it happen earlier rather than later... hopefull
ammonium perchlorate (Score:4, Informative)
compare it to columbia (Score:5, Insightful)
Six people died in this fire. We treated Columbia as a national tragedy, yet when six unknown Indians die, most people won't even notice. These were people who didn't expect to die, who hadn't told their loved ones those "Just in case I don't make it back..." last messages and prepared for the worst.
My heart goes out to their families. Please try to have some respect for the dead. They were just as much a part of the space program as the Columbia astronauts were.
Re:compare it to columbia (Score:1)
Re:compare it to columbia (Score:5, Insightful)
There is no question that this story is tragic, only a complete asshole would try to say otherwise. Tragic as it is, I think comparing it to the shuttle disaster isn't a good match in that while they're in related fields, they're in very different contexts.
The Columbia explosion was something that we here in America (and elsewhere) were greatly affected by emotionally. It hit a chord with many different people because it involved "heros" and people doing things that most people can only dream about doing right now. This story about the explosion in India wont get as much press, but it isn't because it is any less tragic or any less important. Instead it is because it isn't as highly visible an event as Columbia was.
Here's the point I wanted to make when I started this post, and I only hope folks don't take it the wrong way. People do of course die every day, and most every one of those deaths can be described as tragic to somebody. Every day a car crashes into another and 3-5 people die together. Is it tragic? Of course. Is it wrong that the rest of the world doesn't mourn the death of the people in those cars? No; because the car crash is not nearly as high-profile a story so not as many people hear about it.
The Columbia disaster involved people who are publicly admired. The explosion in India involved people in more blue-collar jobs and hence wont be mourned as widely as Columbia, but that doesn't make it any less important.
Re:compare it to columbia (Score:4, Insightful)
Rocket goes boom in India, I wouldn't be surprised to see most of India mourning. However while I mourn the loss of life, it just doesn't sink in as bad as say Colombia going boom.
On the flipside how many Indians truly stood up and took notice (or mourned even) when Colombia went boom? If I had to hazard a guess, not as many as today with their rocket. While I was probably more mournful of Colombia going boom than I am today.
However this is nothing to be ashamed about otherwise ones life would be very depressing overall
Re:compare it to columbia (Score:5, Insightful)
My apologies (Score:1)
However at the same time, this does little to disprove my theory about
Re:My apologies (Score:2)
Even seen one report about it on CNN/FOX/ABC/NBC or in your paper? No? I didn't think so.
Re:compare it to columbia (Score:2)
Those who are involved in, contribute to, or care about, the space program, no matter what nationality...this is like a death in the family.
It doesn't matter where you come from, what religion you are, what political views you endorse, or any other of that social claptrap.
It's all the same goal. It's too bad there isn't such banding together on so many of the other issues that divide humanity from being a whole.
Yeah, I'm bitter tonite. Bite me.
SB
Re:compare it to columbia (Score:3, Informative)
Re:compare it to columbia (Score:1)
Sad, but true, that you are dead wrong. It hasn't received even 1% of coverage, let alone mourning, what Kalpana Chawla and Columbia had received on its first anniversary. [google.com]
Re:compare it to columbia (Score:1)
Re:compare it to columbia (Score:2)
The Columbia was a national tragedy. Most of America watched the shuttle burn up on TV, and a good chunk of the South West was littered with debris from it. The explanation of what happened took a month to figure out, and in the process, our shuttle program was stalled.
I'm sorry to say this because I don't want to sound like I'm belittling the deathes of those that died in India, but what happ
The future (Score:5, Insightful)
However, this hopefully won't be the end of the Indian space efforts. When the SS Columbia was lost it brought NASA's manned space travel to almost a standstill, let's hope the Indians can work out what went wrong, ensure it won't happen again and carry on doing great work. If it all stops, their lives will have been for nothing.
Not only does India need this to bring itself into a greater position in the internation scientific community, but the rest of the world needs it to encourage them to try as well.
May they RIP.
Encouragement (Score:2, Informative)
Indeed. Unfortunately that's not what the media [nytimes.com] thinks about it.
So, indians, no matter what you hear about it: keep working on it.
There was a recent similar accident in 3rd world, also covered by slashdot [slashdot.org]
Press release from ISRO (Score:3, Informative)