You know how it is. Everybody's doing a thing, we're all excited, it's going to be so cool. And then one oblivious jerk has to go and ruin it for everyone.
Such was the scene the night of October 27, 2014 when NASA was forced to abort an anticipated rocket launch. An Antares rocket was scheduled to make a rare nighttime launch from the Virginia coast that would be visible to most of the Eastern seaboard. The rocket was carrying needed supplies to the International Space Station.
Everything was going great, the countdown made it to under 20 minutes to go, and suddenly NASA stopped the clock. The reason? A boat was in the "hazard area" off the Virginia coast that would have put him directly below the rocket's flight path while it was still close to the ground, right after liftoff. Boats are under strict orders to keep out of the hazard area, but, you know...
Oblivious jerk.
Americans anxiously waiting for the launch to light up the night sky took to Twitter to vent. And if there's one thing that the history of the Internet has taught us, it's don't piss off Twitter.
Some were in disbelief that anyone could be so shortsighted.
Wouldn't you love to hear that conversation? Boat dude: Is there a problem? CoastGuard: Yeah. SEE THAT ROCKET OVER THERE? #Antares #Cygnus
— Heather Archuletta (@Pillownaut) October 27, 2014
@NASA Rocket > Boat... — Chris Ellis (@ChrisEJEllis13) October 27, 2014
@NASA Cap'n Dum Dum better not be thinking, "I'm gonna have a front-row seat for this launch!"
— Richard (@HiFiGuy197) October 27, 2014
Others saw (sometimes dark) humor in the situation.
@NASA I guess #Antares should have read that Amazon best seller "How to Avoid Large Ships https://t.co/pM9M4ck3rk — Scott KandyKorin (@scottkorin) October 27, 2014
@NASA_Wallops Because of Ebola? Did you say because of Ebola?
— pourmecoffee (@pourmecoffee) October 27, 2014
@NASA You're going to need a faster boat. — Andrew Erdle (@gooderdle) October 27, 2014
@NASA Wuz that Forest Grump's sprimp boat?
— Gary White (@SWhite688) October 27, 2014
.@NASA @kenan14 Dammit, Gilligan! — No Land Is Safe (@TonyNoland) October 27, 2014
Loving this Lost reference.
NOT PENNY'S BOAT "@NASA: We're aborting today's launch attempt of #Antares due to a boat downrange in the hazard area."
— Alan Parry (@ampontour) October 27, 2014
But most of Twitter just wanted the boat guy's head on a platter.
@NASA_Wallops strap the boat owner to the outside of the rocket ! — BlueEyedPierogi (@BlueEyedPierogi) October 27, 2014
@NASA_Wallops I hope you ask that boater to explain to my sobbing toddler why he doesn't get to see a rocket tonight.
— Brian Carroll (@bmc415) October 27, 2014
@NASA_Wallops Launch anyway. If something happens to the boat, it'll be in the name of science! — tom fuquay (@tfuquay) October 27, 2014
@NASA_Wallops Hoping the boater is now experiencing the same scene that my son laid out with Legos. pic.twitter.com/3FApkXAsRQ
— Danny Kovatich (@dkovatich) October 27, 2014
@NASA_Wallops I got a solution for that. But it might be illegal. — Ann Talmadge (@Aetalmadge) October 27, 2014
I don't normally like generalizations, but all boaters suck. RT @NASA_Wallops: Launch Antares rocket has been scrubbed for tonight.
— Centipedes Fifer (@JordanFifer) October 27, 2014
Sailboat Man, whoever you are...
Run, dude.
Photo: NASA/Bill Ingalls
