Shuttle Worker Falls To Death At Launch Pad
CAPE CANAVERAL (CBS4) – Work on the space shuttle Endeavour has been halted for the day after a shuttle worker fell to his death at the launch pad Monday morning.
Officials at NASA's Kennedy Space Center say the accident occurred at 7:40 a.m. The man fell while working at Launch Pad 39A, preparing the shuttle Endeavour for its final flight. NASA emergency medical personnel rushed to the pad, but were unable to revive him.
Details of what happened are not yet available.
All work at Launch Pad 39A was suspended for the rest of the day according to NASA spokesman Allard Beutel. Beutel said the focus now is to offer grief counseling to the work force.
The male worker, whose name has not been released pending notification of his family, was an employee of United Space Alliance, the prime contractor for the U.S. Space shuttle program.
Endeavour is due to blast off April 19 on its final flight. The shuttle arrived at the pad last week.
Officials believe it's the first launch pad fatality in decades.
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