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  Mercury - Gemini - Apollo
  Apollo 16: Post landing GSE explosion injured 46

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Author Topic:   Apollo 16: Post landing GSE explosion injured 46
Rusty B
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Posts: 121
From: Sacramento, CA
Registered: Oct 2004

posted May 30, 2011 03:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Rusty B   Click Here to Email Rusty B     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
From the Google newspaper archive, a story about Apollo 16 I had not heard before:

Ground service equipment being used to empty the residual toxic RCS fuel remaining in the Apollo 16 command module tanks post landing, exploded in a Naval Air Station hanger near San Diego.

A total of 46 people were sent to the hospital for observation, most suffering from inhalation of toxic fumes. Most seriously injured was a technician that suffered a fractured kneecap when the GSE cart overturned on him.

A hole was blown in the hangar roof 250 feet above, about 40 windows in the hanger were shattered and the Apollo 16 command module suffered a three inch gash in one of its panels.

Blackarrow
Member

Posts: 1702
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002

posted May 30, 2011 04:29 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Blackarrow     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Just a thought... was the residual fuel left in the Apollo 16 CM to avoid the problem on Apollo 15 when venting of fuel during descent caused one parachute to collapse? Is this an extreme example of the law of unintended consequences?

Byeman
Member

Posts: 126
From: Cape Canaveral
Registered: Mar 2010

posted May 30, 2011 08:06 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Byeman   Click Here to Email Byeman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Yes.

All times are CT (US)

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