The launch-abort system hurtled the capsule from a desert launch padat 7 a.m. and reached speeds of about 450 mph in just 2.5 seconds. The capsule landed about a mile north of the launch site as hundreds of onlookers, including NASA engineers and others who helped developed the project, clapped and cheered."
This is great news. Too many lives have been taken in tragic accidents. Although technology has improved and crashes are less frequent, it is great to have an emergency system. If something is wrong during the launch, the emergency system will carry the astronauts away to a safe landing, away from the dangers of the explosive rocket.
I've never thought about it until now, but it actually amazes me that we have come as far as we have with the space program, yet only now has someone realized that it would be a good idea to use the concept, which has been embraced by fighter pilots for decades, of ejecting a human being away from the dangers of an failing craft. I suppose sometimes when you are facing challenges of such a task as space entry and travel, it may seem elementary to think of such basic concepts, but apparently that has been proved wrong time and time again.
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