Where is PEPCON located?
Henderson, Nevada
The PEPCON plant, located in Henderson, Nevada, 10 miles (16 km) from Las Vegas, was one of only two American producers of ammonium perchlorate (“AP”), an oxidizer used in solid propellant rocket boosters, including the Space Shuttle, military weapons (SLBMs launched from nuclear submarines), and non-weaponized rocket …
How did the pepcon explosion happen?
The explosion made history According to a NASA case study on the disaster, the PEPCON explosion, which was the result of sparks from a welding torch setting ablaze a fiberglass infrastructure, created the largest domestic, non-nuclear explosion in recorded history.
What year was the PEPCON blast?
May 4, 1988
PEPCON disaster/Start dates
Who owned PEPCON?
The Cedar City plant, owned by American Pacific Corp. in Las Vegas — the same company that owned PEPCON, employs about 150 people. Neilsen, who saw the damage near Henderson, said, “This is nothing compared to that.
What time did pepcon explode?
The blast happened around 12 noon during the opening round of the Panasonic Las Vegas golf tournament at 3 different courses in the valley. After feeling the initial blast, the mushroom cloud could be seen climbing over the valley and play was halted immediately.
What do explosions have in common with burning?
All explosions, regardless of their source, are characterized by a large release of energy, the production of gas molecules that expand quickly, and a rapid rate of reaction. Burning sugar—chemically known as sucrose (C12H22O11)—produces energy almost immediately.
Can you have an explosion without fire?
An explosion is an event where energy rapidly expands outward from the source, often creating a damaging shock wave. A fire may not cause an explosion, and explosions can happen without fire. Also, a pressurized tank of gas can explode if the material inside expands.
What is the difference between burning and explosions?
A key difference between fire and explosion is that in fire, the fuel (e.g. burning candle) and the oxidizer (air) are clearly separated. Oxygen molecules, necessary to maintain the occurrence of combustion, reach the flame largely by diffusion.
Are explosions spontaneous?
An explosion is a type of spontaneous chemical reaction that, once initiated, is driven by both a large exothermic change (great release of heat) and a large positive entropy change (great quantities of gases are released) in going from reactants to products, thereby constituting a thermodynamically favorable process …
How much PSI is in a nuclear bomb?
At 50 seconds after the explosion, when the fireball is no longer visible, the blast wave has traveled about 12 miles. It is then traveling at about 784 miles per hour, which is slightly faster than the speed of sound at sea level….Overpressure.
| Peak overpressure | Maximum Wind Speed |
|---|---|
| 10 psi | 294 mph |
| 5 psi | 163 mph |
| 2 psi | 70 mph |
When was the Pepcon explosion in Henderson?
May 4, 2018 marks the 30th anniversary of the PEPCON explosion in Henderson, NV. Date: Wednesday, May 4, 1988. Time: Initial fire began between 11:30 and 11:40 AM, PDT.
What happened in the PEPCON disaster?
PEPCON disaster. The largest of the several explosions at the PEPCON plant. On May 4, 1988, a conflagration followed by several explosions occurred at the Pacific Engineering and Production Company of Nevada (PEPCON) chemical plant in Henderson, Nevada. The disaster caused two fatalities, 372 injuries, and an estimated US$100 million of damage.
How many people died in the Henderson explosion?
On May 4, 1988, a conflagration followed by several explosions occurred at the Pacific Engineering and Production Company of Nevada (PEPCON) chemical plant in Henderson, Nevada. The disaster caused two fatalities, 372 injured, and an estimated $100 million USD of damage.
Where is pepepcon located?
PEPCON operated in Clark County, NV, located approximately 10 miles southeast of downtown Las Vegas, NV, near the City of Henderson. Henderson was a