What a Blast!

From Damn Interesting:

Just before lunchtime on May 4th, 1988, at a facility near Henderson, Nevada, a panicked maintenance crew could be seen dashing away from the site of the Pacific Engineering Production Company, also known as PEPCON. Behind them, a moderate but ambitious-looking fire was establishing itself in a large storage lot.

The crew had been repairing a wind-damaged steel-and-fiberglass building when a stray spark from their welder somehow managed to set fire to the structure. . . .

There were over four thousand tons of ammonium perchlorate in the storage area that day, so the anxiety-stricken workers fled with great enthusiasm.

And what does a kiloton of rocket fuel look like when it blows? This video was taken from a mile away.

I love the shock wave.

Watch on YouTube

Whoa.


Video link fixed September 17, 2007.