Earthquake - force blasts on the day damaged a Nevada Kerr - McGee plant that makes ammonium perchlorate , a component of space shuttle and military rocket fuel . Two people were killed , several injured , and an estimated $ 73 million in damage done . The plant says a pre - explosion 30-minute leak in a large natural gas line passing through the plant occurred at the point of origin from circumstances unrelated to plant operations . Southwest Gas said the line ruptured after the explosions . Kerr-McGee and Pacific were the only two plants in the country to manufacture ammonium perchlorate, and The plant is the sole US manufacturer of ammonium perchlorate . The state ordered production halted while the explosion is investigated , which could delay the space shuttle program .
Earthquake - force blasts on the day damaged a Nevada Kerr - McGee plant that makes ammonium perchlorate , a component of space shuttle and military rocket fuel . Two people were killed , several injured , and an estimated $ 73 million in damage done . The plant says a pre - explosion 30-minute leak in a large natural gas line passing through the plant occurred at the point of origin from circumstances unrelated to plant operations . Southwest Gas said the line ruptured after the explosions . The plant is the sole US manufacturer of ammonium perchlorate . The state ordered production halted while the explosion is investigated , which could delay the space shuttle program .