This image shows the launch of the LJ-1A rocket fondly named "Little Joe". It was launched in 1959 as part of the rocket testing for the Mercury flight. Even with as large of set-backs as the explosion of the Delta 3 and Titan 4 rockets, it is not too hard to see that we have come a long way from the early days of space exploration...
'We have experienced an explosion'
News story originally written on August 27, 1998
A brand-new Delta 3 rocket
exploded just a minute after its launch from Cape Canaveral yesterday night. A satellite
used for communications was lost in the explosion.
The rocket exploded over the Atlantic Ocean. No one was hurt by falling debris. The explosion is a great disappointment though as this was first Delta 3 rocket to be launched.
Investigation is already underway and investigation of the Titan 4 rocket that exploded exactly 2 weeks ago continues...