By Associated Press
Huntsville, AL – Two original artifacts and a building at the U-S- Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville were destroyed Monday afternoon when a fire started in the center's bus maintenance workshop.
Spokesman Al Whitaker says no one was injured and the museum did not have to be evacuated during the fire, which started around 12:30 p-m-. Officials say it was still burning around 3 p-m-, but it was contained.
Whitaker said the original instrument unit from the Saturn five rocket and an Apollo drop test module were lost. He said both artifacts were priceless and estimates on the cost of the building, tools and other materials that were destroyed have not been calculated.
Officials suspect the blaze began when sparks from workers' welding torches caught some of the building's insulation on fire.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)