Remember that crazy video of an Antares Rocket blowing up shortly after take off in Virginia the other day? Well NASA said that it hit the self-destruct button for a pretty damn good reason. Via MIC:
As the rocket took off with some 5,000 pounds of supplies and scientific equipment for the International Space Station, NASA officials spotted a malfunction both serious and visible enough to warrant the immediate activation of Antares’ flight termination system. National Geographic’s Brad Scriber writes that the flight safety officer and range safety officer tasked with deciding whether to detonate the rocket prematurely had to make the decision in mere seconds.
Retired astronaut Mark Kelly told CNN it was the correct decision, describing it as necessary to protect civilian lives. No one was injured during the incident.
Woosh. Close call guys. Kinda crazy that we’re talking about like commercial space flights with actual people and stuff and yet clearly these rocket launches can still do disastrously wrong. Thanks, NASA and Bruce Willis for keeping America safe.