I was reading a slashdot story on the space program (specifically the
recent successful shuttle launch) when I came across this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury-Redstone_1
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The Redstone's engine cut out about 1 second after lift-off. The launch
failure was caused by a booster tail plug that pulled out too early,
about one inch (25 mm) after liftoff. The rocket rose about 4 inches
(100 mm) then settled back onto the launch pad and did not explode. An
odd series of events then took place.
The Launch Escape System sensed the booster cutoff and fired the main
escape rockets. At the same time, it thought booster cutoff was a signal
to jettison itself, so it released the Mercury capsule. As a result the
Escape Rocket launched itself to a 4,000 ft (1,220 m) apogee and landed
400 yards (365 m) away, but the capsule stayed behind on the rocket. The
Mercury spacecraft sensed escape system jettison, but thought it been
pulled away from an exploding booster and was falling. Three seconds
after the escape rocket fired, the spacecraft ejected its radio canister
and deployed its drogue, main and reserve parachutes.
In the end, a fully fuelled, slightly wrinkled Redstone booster sat on
the launch pad, with live batteries and pyrotechnics. On top of it sat a
Mercury capsule with live batteries and more pyrotechnics and main and
reserve parachutes hanging down the side of the rocket, threatening to
tip the Redstone over if they caught enough wind. All that was launched
was the escape tower.
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Immediately, the thought that flashed across my mind was "Was it running
Windows?".
Then I realised that it was a few years ahead...
Still made me chuckle at the thought.