Earthquake-force blasts on May 4th leveled a Nevada Kerr-McGee plant that makes ammonium perchlorate, a component of space shuttle and military rocket fuel. Two people were killed, 326 injured, and an estimated $73 million in damage done. Kerr-McGee said it would suspend production of ammonium perchlorate, an oxidizer for solid fuel used in the space shuttle and military rockets, until an independent inspection shows the plant is safe. The plant says a pre-explosion 30-minute leak in a large natural gas line passing through the plant ignited at the point of origin from circumstances unrelated to plant operations. Southwest Gas said the line ruptured after the explosions. A second blast occurred just before noon local time near the same plant. The state ordered production halted while the explosion is investigated, which could delay the space shuttle program.
Earthquake-force blasts on May 4th leveled a Nevada Kerr-McGee plant that makes ammonium perchlorate, a component of space shuttle and military rocket fuel. Two people were killed, 326 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 ignited at the point of origin from circumstances unrelated to plant operations. Southwest Gas said the line ruptured after the explosions. A second blast occurred just before noon local time near the same plant. The state ordered production halted while the explosion is investigated, which could delay the space shuttle program.