Endeavor shuttle worker killed after falling from launch pad

Endeavor shuttle worker killed after falling from launch pad

 

A space shuttle worker has fallen to his death at a Florida launch pad.

Officials at NASA's Kennedy Space Center said the man fell while working on the shuttle Endeavour this morning.

Medics rushed to the launch pad, but were unable to revive him.

Tragedy: A shuttle worker has died after falling from the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida as he worked on the Endeavour

NASA spokesman Allard Beutel said work on the shuttle was suspended for the day and staff were being offered grief counselling.

Endeavour is due to blast off on April 19 on its final flight. The shuttle only arrived at Kennedy last week.

The victim, who has not been identified, worked for United Space Alliance, a NASA contractor.

Details of what happened have not yet been revealed.

Officials believed it is the first launch pad fatality in decades.