KSC assesses readiness to return to work after fatal fall

NASA and contractor managers this morning are meeting with employees at launch pad 39A to gauge their readiness to return to work a day after a colleague died in a fall from the pad.

James D. Vanover, a 53-year-old United Space Alliance swing arm engineer from Titusville, died after falling from an undisclosed height around 7:40 a.m. Monday.

The fall in under investigation.

Work at the pad was suspended and grief counseling was offered. Kennedy officials say the goal today is not rush employees back to work after Monday's shock, but to slowly ease back into it when they are ready.

There is ample time in shuttle Endeavour's processing schedule to make a targeted April 19 launch date.

In an important milestone in preparation of the mission's payloads, a $2 billion cosmic ray detector today is to be moved into the canister that will deliver it to the launch pad.

By presidential proclamation, flags at KSC were to fly at half-staff today in memory of Army Corporal Frank Buckles, the last American veteran of World War I, who died Feb. 27 at age 110.