Space Shuttle Worker Falls To Death On Launch Pad

Tragedy has struck NASA as the organization announced a space shuttle worker fell to his death at the Endeavour launch pad this morning.

NASA said the United Space Alliance worker fell at approximately 7:40 am eastern this morning at the NASA Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A.The launch pad is currently holding the space shuttle Endeavour, which is slated to launch on April 19.

NASA emergency medical personnel responded, but they were unable to revive the man. Because of medical privacy, currently we're not able to release any additional details about this fatality. Family members are being notified, NASA announced on its website.

NASA has launched an investigation of the incident. For now, all work at Launch Pad 39A has been suspended for the rest of the day, and counseling and other employee assistance are being provided to workers.

The Endeavour mission will be the final one for the long-time space shuttle. It will be 14 days long and the crew is set to deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) and spare parts including two S-band communications antennas, a high-pressure gas tank, additional spare parts for Dextre and micrometeoroid debris shields to the International Space Station.

The shuttle has been in the news because the commander on it will be Mark Kelly, husband of congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. A few months ago, Giffords was shot by an attempted assassin Jared Lee Loughner.

I am looking forward to rejoining my STS-134 crew members and finishing our training for the mission. We have been preparing for more than 18 months, and we will be ready to deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer to the International Space Station and complete the other objectives of the flight. I appreciate the confidence that my NASA management has in me and the rest of my space shuttle crew, Commander Kelly said at a news conference.

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