(via MetaFilter)
A satellite plunges to earth – from 3 feet.
“As the NOAA-N Prime spacecraft was being repositioned from vertical to horizontal on the “turn over cart” …, it slipped off the fixture, causing severe damage. … The 18′ long spacecraft was about 3′ off the ground when it fell.”
It seems a gang of technicians had purloined the screws that hold the satellite to the cart for their own cart. The NOAA-N crew didn’t notice the missing screws and tried to turn the satellite over.
I hate it when that happens!