São Luis, Brazil
A rocket blew up on its launchpad in Brazil, killing 21 people and injuring 20 more. The dead were technicians conducting last-minute tests before the rocket, carrying two research satellites, was to be launched this week. It was Brazil’s third failed attempt to become the first Latin American country to send a rocket into space. The first crashed into the Atlantic Ocean in 1997, and the second had to be destroyed by remote control after it malfunctioned minutes after takeoff in 1999. This time, one of the craft’s four engines ignited unexpectedly. “We had just done two days of tests and everything went well, 100 percent,” said Brazilian Air Force Col. Romeo Brasileiro. “Everybody is devastated.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Foreigners in Spain facing a 100% tax on homes as the country battles a housing crisisUnder the Radar The goal is to provide 'more housing, better regulation and greater aid,' said Spain's prime minister
-
Sudoku hard: January 22, 2025The Week's daily hard sudoku puzzle
-
Codeword: January 22, 2025The Week's daily codeword puzzle
