NASA launches investigation into fatal fall

NASA launched an investigation this week into the March 17 death of a construction worker who fell off the roof of a building at Kennedy Space Center.

Headed by astronaut John Casper, who also is an industrial safety expert, the probe is the second to be kicked off in the past week. On the same say the roofer died, NASA formed a board to investigate a work place accident that resulted in damage to a shuttle robot arm.

The death and the robot arm damage occurred amid a rash of recent incidents that prompted NASA to order a safety stand-down at KSC.

Killed in the roofing accident was Steven Owens, 46, of Titusville. He was performing roof repairs at a warehouse in the KSC Industrial Area when he fell off the building. He was airlifted to a hospital in Orlando, where he died the same day.

KSC spokesman Bruce Buckingham said the investigation should be completed in about a month.