Balloon explosion at Tucson’s World View caused $475,000 in damage
World View's insurance carrier paid the full cost of the repairs, which were initially pegged at about
The matter is scheduled for discussion at the supervisor's meeting on
World View's own independent investigation found that the explosion was caused by static electricity and that the company's pre-flight safety review "incorrectly assessed both the probability and possible consequences of an explosive event during deflation."
The company has hired a safety director and is instituting new training and operating and workplace procedures to avoid such incidents in the future, World View CEO
World View is ramping up flights on its stratospheric balloons for research payloads for NASA and other customers and plans to eventually offer passengers rides to the stratosphere.
In the
Miller, a staunch opponent of World View's lease deal with the county, submitted a list of a dozen questions to county administrators, covering investigations of the incident, damages and injuries, hazardous materials handling and insurance.
Some specific responses:
* The
* There was no damage to Spaceport Tucson -- which essentially consists of a round concrete launch pad 700 feet in diameter -- and no damage claims were filed with the county by neighboring residents or agencies.
* Three World View employees received medical attention for hearing issues such as ear-ringing, which was reported to
* World View was not cited by
* Helium and hydrogen used as lift gases are not stored on-site for extended periods, but delivered and stored briefly as needed for flights.
* Though it was a ground test, the event was coordinated with the
* World View's
World View's three-member independent incident review team was headed by
The team, which also included a retired NASA chief engineer and a scientist who has supported
Besides hiring a safety director, the review team recommended that World View improve its hazardous-materials and risk-management processes, get more analysis and support for hydrogen gas operations, refine operations crew scheduling rules, improve balloon design and improve its communications and culture as the company moves from research and development to production and operations.
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