Spectacular Video of Last Time American Rocket Exploded
The last time an operational American launch vehicle exploded was nearly 18 years ago when a Delta II rocket exploded at Cape Canaveral on January 17, 1997.
12 responses to “Spectacular Video of Last Time American Rocket Exploded”
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I think you are forgetting Space X Falcon 1 explosion, and the space shuttle Columbia.
Columbia didn’t explode.
I wasn’t specific enough. The last time an **operational ** rocket exploded during launch.
Falcon 1 was a test launch. Columbia broke up during re-entry as a result of a launch anomaly.
The point it’s been 18 years since a rocket blew up on launch. That speaks well of Lockheed Martin, Boeing and ULA. You can complain about the cost, but the reliability has been excellent. Not perfect, but nearly so.
There was the ex-polaris (STAR?) explosion a few months back; though I suppose that might not fit under your definition of ‘launch vehicle’.
“The point it’s been 18 years since a rocket blew up on launch. That speaks well of Lockheed Martin, Boeing and ULA. You can complain about the cost, but the reliability has been excellent. Not perfect, but nearly so.
That kind of rationale would be totally unacceptable for any other kind of business operation ; )
What other business operation is there similar to rocket launches?
Fundamentally, it’s a market that delivers goods and/or services to customers.
Love it when the announcer says “we had an anomaly” 😀
Changes of underwear were in order after that. Incredible no one was injured.
Kind of reminded me of being around the epicenter of a really cool fireworks finale.
I thought there was a Titan IV failure after that
According to wikipedia, on the 12th August of 1998, a Titan IVA was destroyed by range safety. That might or might not qualify as a rocket exploding (on it’s own).