Huntsville, AL. - Two (2) employees were severely burned in an incident at Redstone Arsenal today while doing work with the Aviation Missile Research Development and Engineering Center approximately 8:45 AM. It is alleged the AMTEC Corporation employees were working with ammonium perchlorate composite propellant (APCP). APCP is typically used in high power rocket motors. The explosion occurred at Building 7352, where employees were involved in work relating to the capture and reprocess of the ammonium perchlorate for possible future reuse as solid rocket fuel. Building 7352 is used for aviation and missile testing. The building was designed to contain a blast in the event of an explosion during this inherently dangerous type of work.
At least one of the injured will be transported to UAB Hospital. Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured and their families.
Huntsville is known worldwide as the Rocket City.
Click here for the AMTEC Corporation News Release (PDF): Press release concerning Redstone Arsenal accident May 5, 2010
More Information: NFPA 1125: Code for the Manufacture of Model Rocket and High Power Rocket Motors
