On May 31, 2008, the Space Shuttle Discovery launched from Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39A. Its mission was to deliver "Kibo" (or Hope, the centerpiece of the Japanese Experiment Module) to the International Space Station. After the launch, NASA Safing Teams set out to inspect the launch facility and were surprised to find the entire area littered with debris. Discovery's liftoff had produced dynamic loads strong enough to tear thousands of bricks from their anchors in the flame trench wall. The flying bricks, shown by radar to travel at speeds up to 680 miles per hour, damaged the opposite wall and a nearby security fence. Some bricks travelled distances exceeding 1,800 feet. Although the debris did not impact the Space Shuttle or compromise its mission, damages to the flame trench were estimated to cost $2.5 million. An aging infrastructure, an incomprehensive maintenance plan and oversights in the transition from Apollo to Space Shuttle conspired to weaken the structure of the flame trench until finally, it failed. This incident teaches us that decades-long vigilance over systems and infrastructures is crucial to identifying and rectifying hazards before they become mishaps.