Michael Carrafiello / The Conversation

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A color photograph captures the explosive failure of a Vanguard TV-3 rocket on its launchpad. A massive ball of bright orange fire and billowing black smoke erupts from the base of the slender, silver and black rocket. The rocket remains momentarily upright amidst the blast, positioned next to a tall red and white gantry tower under a clear blue sky.

The first modern rocket launched 100 years ago, beginning a century of both innovations and challenges for spaceflight

By Michael Carrafiello / The Conversation