Air, Space Port implements new safety procedures

Valley Press on ^ | Tuesday, October 16, 2007. | ALLISON GATLIN

[BenLurkin]

MOJAVE - Nearly three months after the fatal explosion at a rocket test site at the Mojave Air and Space Port, the investigation into its cause continues while the facility and its tenants have instituted new safety procedures in hopes of preventing such an accident - or at least lessening its impact - in the future. The July 26 explosion occurred during what was described as routine cold-testing of a nitrous oxide propellent system for Scaled Composites' SpaceShipTwo, a suborbital spacecraft under development for space tourism company Virgin Galactic.

Scaled employees Eric Blackwell, 38, of Randsburg; Charles "Glen" May, 45, of Mojave; and Todd Ivens, 33, of Tehachapi were killed and three others were seriously injured in the explosion.

The blast is under investigation as an industrial accident by the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health, or CalOSHA.

"We have not heard when the report will be released to us," said Tom Weil, director of business operations at the Mojave Air and Space Port.

Scaled Composites is conducting its own investigation into the accident as well, with further development of the propulsion system on hold until the cause is understood.

Airport and Kern County Fire Department officials met with Scaled Composites about a week ago to discuss in detail the accident and the emergency response, Weil said.

"If anything, the Scaled Composites incident really has opened up the communication up and down the field. That has been very, very positive," he said.

New procedures for risk assessment prior to any rocket testing have been instituted at the airport, including a review of the test plan conducted with county fire and health department officials.

[sinanju]

Pioneering will always be dangerous.

It is a bummer, as Rutan sold this rocket propellant as being especially safe and cheap in handling as opposed to the usual liquid hydrogen + liquid oxygen combo.

[narby]

Rutan sold this rocket propellant as being especially safe and cheap in handling as opposed to the usual liquid hydrogen + liquid oxygen combo.

I haven't seen even a conjecture about why this happened. Was it merely a pressure vessel explosion? Or something regarding the oxidizer meeting a fuel somewhere?

On the surface, it would appear like this thing should be safer than the traditional LOX + fuel rocket.

[ASOC]

I guess there *is* a reason the military has engine test stands in revetments....

I was shocked to see the test stand in news photos, no bunker, revetment or other protection I could see, perhaps I missed that part.