Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Fatal Fire at Indian Space Center

Posted by michael on from the handle-with-care dept.

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."

6 of 51 comments (clear)

  1. Remember... by Stone+Rhino · · Score: 5, Informative

    It could have been worse. Whenever you work with highly flammable materials, this is the risk that you take. It can be mitigated by proper safety procedures, but never fully eliminated. These workers paid the ultimate price for a lapse somewhere in the chain of safety.

    --


    Remember, there were no nuclear weapons before women were allowed to vote.
  2. I think... by Otter · · Score: 3, Informative
    ...a fire has ripped through India's main space centre...

    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.

    --
    What I'm listening to now on Pandora...
  3. ammonium perchlorate by Jru+Hym · · Score: 4, Informative

    Lucky for them they didn't have a large store of ammonium perchlorate go up. Remember this explosion in NV in '88

    --
    This lobster was alive when it hit the frothy, boiling water.
  4. Re:compare it to columbia by raju · · Score: 3, Informative

    Kalpana Chawla, one of the astronauts in the ill-fated shuttle was of Indian descent. The Columbia accident was front-page news in India and many of the weekly magazines had cover articles on it. Ok, I admit, the Indian astronaut had a lot to do with it. In any case, India did mourn.

  5. Press release from ISRO by Valluvan · · Score: 3, Informative

    is here.

    --

    Science as a way of life.
  6. Encouragement by leg_br · · Score: 2, Informative
    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
    Indeed. Unfortunately that's not what the media 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