Asbestos Slows Launch Pad Cleanup
Filler Used Between Bricks During Apollo Era
POSTED: Friday, June 6, 2008
UPDATED: 12:35 pm EDT June 6,
2008
 |
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Workers wearing protective suits are picking up rope-like bits of asbestos at launch Pad 39A after Saturday's shuttle launch damaged a 20-foot-by-75-foot section of the flame trench.The asbestos filler material was used between bricks during the Apollo era, when the launch pad was built, Local 6 News partner Florida Today reported.The 6 million pounds of thrust from Discovery's engines, channeled by the flame trench, blasted the bricks and asbestos beyond a perimeter fence located 1,800 feet away.Cleanup is expected to be complete next week.An investigation team is looking into the cause of the damage and the method for repair. The team will consider whether the concrete simply weakened or whether erosion under the launch pad could allow more damage during the next shuttle launch in October.Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
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