Turbulent video shows the moment a Russian rocket failed, sending two astronauts back to Earth

The Russian space agency Roscosmos released footage of the nearly-disastrous rocket launch that imperiled the lives of NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin on October 11.

While the video is dramatic, it also proved the effectiveness of the Soyuz rocket’s emergency abort system — which blasted the crew capsule away from the damaged launcher — ultimately allowing the two-person crew to parachute back down to Earth. 

The footage, captured by a camera attached to the side of the Soyuz, shows the rocket blasting off the brown Kazakhstan ground and passing through the clouds. But just after the 1:22 mark, things go awry.  Read more…

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