A Union Pacific train carrying space shuttle parts derailed on Wednesday, injuring six people. The train derailed when the wooden trestle it was traveling across collapsed, near the Tombigbee River in western Alabama.
The train was carrying 8 solid rocket booster motors and two end cones for future shuttle missions. These are interchangeable parts, and would be used for upcoming shuttle missions in October and December. It’s not known if the derailment will cause a delay for any upcoming mission. The next launch of the space shuttle Atlantis, scheduled for June, won’t be delayed, because the spacecraft already has its boosters.
Original Source: Reuters Article