Posted on 02/23/2004 8:22:15 AM PST by blam
Fatal fire at India space centre
A fire has ripped through India's main space centre killing at least six people, police say.
A number of people were also injured in the blaze at the Sriharikota centre, on an island off Andhra Pradesh state.
Reports say an explosion triggered the fire at a solid propellant plant, where advanced rocket fuel is prepared. The fire is reported to be under control.
The centre, built in 1971, assembles and tests rockets, and has a satellite launch pad used by several countries.
Satellite launches
A rocket on its launch pad at Sriharikota
The Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota is the main launch base of the Indian Space Research Organisation.
It is situated 100 kilometres (60 miles) from the city of Madras.
Several craft carrying telecommunications and imaging satellites for a number of countries have been put into orbit from the site.
Correspondents say India has impressive ambitions in the field of space travel.
Last year the government announced plans for an unmanned flight to the Moon, probably in 2008. The project is estimated to cost 3.5bn rupees ($74m).
The plan envisages sending a 250kg remote sensing satellite, which will be launched by India's own indigenously developed Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.
The project aims to explore the surface of the Moon.
India, man, not Chicago.
Understood....India has so many cows, they are allowed to roam freely. The cows are the Holy symbol of Hinduism...a joke, sort of. :/
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