Space shuttle worker killed in Fla. fall

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., March 14 (UPI) -- A contract worker preparing the Endeavour space shuttle for its final flight was killed Monday in a fall from the launch pad in Florida, officials said.

The worker, identified as James Vanover, worked for shuttle contractor United Space Alliance, CNN reported Monday.

"He fell at the pad and NASA emergency medical personnel responded but were unable to revive him," Kennedy Space Center spokeswoman Candrea Thomas said.

Vanover was a swing-arm engineer, United Space Alliance spokeswoman Kari Fluegel said, supporting work on the gaseous oxygen vent hood as well as the orbiter access arm, which is the passageway through which astronauts enter the space shuttle

His body was found on another level of Launch Pad 39, Fluegel said.

It was not immediately known what caused him to fall.

"The incident is under investigation," Thomas said. "As of right now, all work at the pad has been suspended for the day while we investigate what happened."

Endeavour is set to launch for its final mission on April 19.