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21 killed as Brazilian rocket explodes
Brasilia, Aug 23: A rocket exploded on its launch pad while undergoing final pre-launch tests, killing at least 21 people, Brazilian military officials said. At least 20 others were injured.
Brasilia, Aug 23: A rocket exploded on its launch pad while undergoing final pre-launch tests, killing at least 21 people, Brazilian military officials said. At least 20 others were injured.
The blast yesterday at the remote base in northeastern Brazil killed mostly civilian technicians and destroyed two research satellites, Defence Minster Jose Veigas Filho said. Some of the bodies were burned beyond recognition, he said.
"The launching pad collapsed and the technicians were working there, so everything indicates they died," Veigas said. "There is no hope that there were survivors."
"We have recovered more bodies and now know of 21 dead. We don`t expect number of dead will increase further," said Air Force spokesman Lt Ricardo Olanda.
At least 20 people were injured - most were flown to a hospital in neighbouring Sao Luis de Maranhao, Veigas said.
Globo Television showed footage of a plume of smoke rising high into the sky over the seaside Alcantara launch center, 2,350 kms north of Sao Paulo.
The explosion occurred after one of the four main motors of the rocket was ignited for reasons still unknown, he said.
The 6.5 million real (USD 2.2 million) VLS-3 rocket was scheduled to be launched next week with the two satellites.
The blast came as technicians were putting the finishing touches on a rocket that would make Brazil the first Latin American nation to put a satellite in space on its own.
Bureau Report
The blast yesterday at the remote base in northeastern Brazil killed mostly civilian technicians and destroyed two research satellites, Defence Minster Jose Veigas Filho said. Some of the bodies were burned beyond recognition, he said.
"The launching pad collapsed and the technicians were working there, so everything indicates they died," Veigas said. "There is no hope that there were survivors."
"We have recovered more bodies and now know of 21 dead. We don`t expect number of dead will increase further," said Air Force spokesman Lt Ricardo Olanda.
At least 20 people were injured - most were flown to a hospital in neighbouring Sao Luis de Maranhao, Veigas said.
Globo Television showed footage of a plume of smoke rising high into the sky over the seaside Alcantara launch center, 2,350 kms north of Sao Paulo.
The explosion occurred after one of the four main motors of the rocket was ignited for reasons still unknown, he said.
The 6.5 million real (USD 2.2 million) VLS-3 rocket was scheduled to be launched next week with the two satellites.
The blast came as technicians were putting the finishing touches on a rocket that would make Brazil the first Latin American nation to put a satellite in space on its own.
Bureau Report