Did you hear about the Titan that blew up in Arkansas? One of the guys
who worked for me was on the MArtin investigation team... That caused a
750 ton door to actually disappear, blown into very small fragments. 750
tons. All because a tech in a space suit dropped a wrench that bounced
off the missile and cause a weeping leak in the oxydizer, ed fuming
nitric acid... I suspect you folk were very lucky to be alive. Although
the corporal was a small battlefield tactical weapon.
mayf.
neil@dbelltech.com wrote:
>Mayf;
>
>Ever wonder what comes after a "5, 4, 3, 2, 1, zero" countdown sequence and
>nothing happens? It happened to us during missile firing practice. We were
>airlifted to the Outer Hebrides Islands to use the Royal Artillery Guided
>Weapons Range on Benbecula. A couple of Corporal missiles were launched out
>into the Atlantic successfully and then this happened.
>
>The missile sat on the launcher when the count reached "zero" so the count
>continued "A, B, C, D,..." until it reached "J"; at that point the order was
>given to vent the oxidizer overboard and clouds of red nitric acid blew out
>of the vents. After decontamination the hydrazine fuel needed to be unloaded
>but first the missile internal power (NiCd batteries) needed to be
>disconnected. A sergeant went up in a cherry picker to disconnect the power
>but a wind gust caught the cherry picker, broke the shear pin and it spun
>around 360 degrees and slammed into the still- fueled missile. We looked
>on-- horrified-- as the missile rocked back and forth on its launcher.
>Fortunately, it settled back instead of toppling over. That sergeant in the
>cherry picker basket was awfully glad to get his feet back on the ground.
>
>End of "war story" but maybe you're right about its effect on me. :)
>
>Regards, Neil Tucson, AZ
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: drmayf [mailto:drmayf@mayfco.com]
>Sent: Friday, February 22, 2008 6:05 PM
>To: Skip Higginbotham
>Cc: neil@dbelltech.com; 'Pile,Chris'; 'Land Speed Digest'
>Subject: Re: [Land-speed] Hydrazine
>
>For all those who have used this stuff before, we now know what is wrong
>with you, lol... take a look at this link to MSDS sheet for Anhydrous
>Hydrazine (the rocket fuel). If you have any breathing or respiratory
>issues or eye problems, etc... scroll down to the Emergency Overview...
>By the way, Red Fuming Nitric Acid is no better.
>
>https://fscimage.fishersci.com/msds/11040.htm
>
>
>mayf
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