Brazilian space rocket explodes

[Shashman]

Condoleances to the families and close friends of the victims (mostly civilian technicians) ... http://forums.bistudio.com/oldsmileys/sad_o.gif


Article (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3175131.stm)

[The Frenchman]

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[Major Gripe]

Sad news indeed, but surely questions have to be answered as to why it suddenly caught fire? There shoud have been cutouts and fire controls to at least allow the workers to get away before it exploded.

[Shashman]

Well it could have been something relatively trivial that caused a fire, which then set off a chain reaction, which, evidently has catastrophic conclusions http://forums.bistudio.com/oldsmileys/sad_o.gif

[Scope[SWAF]]

oh... now isnt that a slap in the face.. wow... sad

[bn880]

Quite bad news... but yeah, bad news all over the place, locally and globally.

[Hellfish6]

My condolences to the families, and Brazil as a whole.

I think in the long run (5-10 years) this will a HUGE loss. Spending on space exploration is declining around the globe right at the point where I think we should be spending more. The loss of this rocket, the first space mission for a Latin American country and one of the few space programs in the world, coupled with the loss of the Columbia makes for a bleak near-term picture for us stargazers.

To have had Brazil, just a few short years ago a squalid, overpopulated country known only for it's beaches launch a rocket of it's own would have been a monumental accomplishment not only for them, but much of the world.

Now, I think, more would-be space funds will be diverted around the world. Nobody wants to take the kinds of risks and costs associated with space exploration - especially when it is so evident that the risks are real.

I can only hope Brazil rebounds quickly.

[RalphWiggum]

my condolences to the victims too. http://forums.bistudio.com/oldsmileys/sad_o.gif

[FSPilot]

Sorry to hear it. http://forums.bistudio.com/oldsmileys/sad_o.gif
Space programs haven't had much luck anywhere lately.