Quote:
Originally Posted by CurtEgerer
I just learned about it. And now I need to go check it out! I want to do a gravel bike ride in the Everglades and this was along one of the routes. Had never heard anything about it before. Did not read about the 'incident'??  |
Curt, they shuttered the place up. Not sure you can reach it without upsetting some private security guards (and reportedly tons of Burmese pythons).
Recap of the incident:
Between Sept. 25, 1965, and June 17, 1967, three static test firings were done. SL-1 was fired at night, and the flame was clearly visible from Miami 50 km away, producing over 3 million pounds of thrust. SL-2 was fired with similar success and relatively uneventful. Despite having two chambers, a third test firing took place by reusing the SL-2. Dubbed the SL-3 and what would be the final test rocket, it used a partially submerged nozzle and produced 2,670,000 kgf thrust, making it the largest and most powerful solid-fuel rocket motor ever built.
Near burnout, the rocket nozzle was ejected, causing propellant made of hydrochloric acids to be spread across wetlands in the Everglades and crop fields and homes in Homestead. Many residents of Homestead complained about the damage done, which included paint damage to their cars and killing thousands of dollars worth of crops.
more:
https://www.abandonedfl.com/aerojet-dade/