# Haha, North Korean rocket crashes and burns within one minute of takeoff **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 13, 2012, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haha-north-korean-rocket-crashes-and-burns-within-one-minute-of-takeoff/618623 "2012-04-13T00:54:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haha-north-korean-rocket-crashes-and-burns-within-one-minute-of-takeoff/618623/41 "2012-04-13T15:14:07Z")
When this first hit the news, I told my wife: “North Korea doesn’t have that kind of sophistication. Even if they have fuel for the tanks, it will self-destruct after liftoff.” Wow. I’m a prophet. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haha-north-korean-rocket-crashes-and-burns-within-one-minute-of-takeoff/618623/42 "2012-04-13T15:29:40Z")
[So yesterday was not the best day for North Korea.](http://news.yahoo.com/wrong-turn-grants-glimpse-behind-n-korean-curtain-130351132.html) ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haha-north-korean-rocket-crashes-and-burns-within-one-minute-of-takeoff/618623/43 "2012-04-13T15:50:00Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > When this first hit the news, I told my wife: “North Korea doesn’t have that kind of sophistication. Even if they have fuel for the tanks, it will self-destruct after liftoff.” > > Wow. I’m a prophet. I said the same thing to my wife. Turns out, they don’t call it _rocket science_ for nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haha-north-korean-rocket-crashes-and-burns-within-one-minute-of-takeoff/618623/44 "2012-04-13T15:50:42Z")
Laughter aside, one possible response for NK to this embarrassment would be to do something even more aggressive and scary. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haha-north-korean-rocket-crashes-and-burns-within-one-minute-of-takeoff/618623/45 "2012-04-13T15:51:58Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > they don’t call it _rocket science_ for nothing. Probably the last words of several NK scientists and engineers today. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haha-north-korean-rocket-crashes-and-burns-within-one-minute-of-takeoff/618623/46 "2012-04-13T15:54:29Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Laughter aside, one possible response for NK to this embarrassment would be to do something even more aggressive and scary. They’re going to launch two rockets? ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haha-north-korean-rocket-crashes-and-burns-within-one-minute-of-takeoff/618623/47 "2012-04-13T16:00:24Z")
I wonder if the entire population has to now cry for the failed rocket? ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haha-north-korean-rocket-crashes-and-burns-within-one-minute-of-takeoff/618623/48 "2012-04-13T16:08:31Z")
[QUOTE=The Other Waldo Pepper] They’re going to launch two rockets? [/QUOTE] Or, maybe another nuclear ‘test’ detonation like, IIRC, the last time they launched a rocket like this. Or, perhaps they will ‘accidentally’ sink another SK warship or something dippy like that. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haha-north-korean-rocket-crashes-and-burns-within-one-minute-of-takeoff/618623/49 "2012-04-13T16:11:26Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > In other news, the entire staff of North Korea’s aerospace program is enjoying an all-expenses-paid vacation in an undisclosed location and could not be reached for comment. “Once the rockets go up Who cares where they come down That’s not my department…” ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haha-north-korean-rocket-crashes-and-burns-within-one-minute-of-takeoff/618623/50 "2012-04-13T16:55:05Z")
> [@R.P.McMurphy](#): > > Yea, I saw that picture. And if you were alive for the early space launches, manned and unmanned, and saw the control rooms, it was easy to see that the place looks pretty primitive. I think that was the point of the picture. North Korea’s rocket program has been an abysmal failure but you have to protect against the scenario of them getting lucky, especially when Iran is helping out. The NK reaction will be interesting. I wonder if those dittoheads (Rush Limbaugh types) in NK are crying, banging their heads against the concrete and screaming out in total sorrow over the loss of their precious rocket. > > It would be laughable except for the sad truth that their resources are going to these kind of fiascoes instead of feeding their people. Turns out the North Korea rocket FAIL was not newsworthy enought to make the front page of _The New York Times_. It was reported on page A12. Still, I can just see one of the North Korean technicians with a distressed look on his face, staring at the monitor, saying, “Rocket suppose to go up. Rocket suppose to go _up_.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haha-north-korean-rocket-crashes-and-burns-within-one-minute-of-takeoff/618623/51 "2012-04-13T17:23:55Z")
I just learned from Mitt Romney that the rocket launch is Obama’s fault. Not the _failure_, of course; that’s courtesy of God, I guess. But the \*real \*God, not the one Obama prays to. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haha-north-korean-rocket-crashes-and-burns-within-one-minute-of-takeoff/618623/52 "2012-04-13T17:32:11Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > Turns out the North Korea rocket FAIL was not newsworthy enought to make the front page of _The New York Times_. It was reported on page A12. > > Still, I can just see one of the North Korean technicians with a distressed look on his face, staring at the monitor, saying, “Rocket suppose to go up. Rocket suppose to go _up_.” 😃 Certainly at that time the NY Times had gone to press. There’s probably nothing in the earliest editions. They probably were able to insert something in the later editions. It’s a prominent story on Times Reader and the electronic edition. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haha-north-korean-rocket-crashes-and-burns-within-one-minute-of-takeoff/618623/53 "2012-04-13T17:48:49Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > Turns out the North Korea rocket FAIL was not newsworthy enought to make the front page of _The New York Times_. It was reported on page A12. > [@R.P.McMurphy](#): > > Certainly at that time the NY Times had gone to press. There’s probably nothing in the earliest editions. They probably were able to insert something in the later editions. It’s a prominent story on Times Reader and the electronic edition. Right, it’s the most prominently features story on their website now. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haha-north-korean-rocket-crashes-and-burns-within-one-minute-of-takeoff/618623/54 "2012-04-13T18:03:17Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > [So yesterday was not the best day for North Korea.](http://news.yahoo.com/wrong-turn-grants-glimpse-behind-n-korean-curtain-130351132.html) Wow, that’s surreal. Especially the last two paragraphs. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haha-north-korean-rocket-crashes-and-burns-within-one-minute-of-takeoff/618623/55 "2012-04-13T18:05:01Z")
[Quote=voltaire] To deliver thermonuclear warheads onto key cities such as New York, Washington, Boston, Philadelphia, Denver, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle, Austin, New Orleans, and Jacksonville. [/Quote] Once again, Houston gets no respect. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haha-north-korean-rocket-crashes-and-burns-within-one-minute-of-takeoff/618623/56 "2012-04-13T18:13:30Z")
> [@R.P.McMurphy](#): > > Certainly at that time the NY Times had gone to press. There’s probably nothing in the earliest editions. They probably were able to insert something in the later editions. It’s a prominent story on Times Reader and the electronic edition. I read the [National Edition](http://www.nytimes.com/images/2012/04/13/nytfrontpage/scannat.jpg) this morning, Friday, April 13, 2012 (Friday the 13th), and there are two stories about the 2012 election on the front page - one about campaign fundraising and another about the comments by Hilary Rosen about Ann Romney. There is also a photograph of George Zimmerman being charged on the front page. No picture of any North Korean control room like on yesterday’s front page. It wasn’t too early for a story (and photograph) to be on yesterday’s front page about the North Korean rocket launch. > [@Marley23](#): > > Right, it’s the most prominently features story on their website now. The North Korean rocket _launch_ was featured prominently in yesterday’s print/electonic edition and on the website; however, the North Korean rocket FAIL is only featured prominently on the website, and they already had the story but the editors decided to put it on page A13 in the print/electronic edition. My guess is the editors decided to have the rocket launch on print/electronic/website/ect. and then when it happened (FAIL) they made the decision to not put it on the front page. What’s on the website now is the “fallout” from the launch and the FAIL. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haha-north-korean-rocket-crashes-and-burns-within-one-minute-of-takeoff/618623/57 "2012-04-13T19:28:39Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > “Once the rockets go up > Who cares where they come down > That’s not my department…” I aimed for the stars - but hit the launchpad. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haha-north-korean-rocket-crashes-and-burns-within-one-minute-of-takeoff/618623/58 "2012-04-13T19:32:40Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Once again, Houston gets no respect. You might even say they have a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haha-north-korean-rocket-crashes-and-burns-within-one-minute-of-takeoff/618623/59 "2012-04-13T21:25:18Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > [So yesterday was not the best day for North Korea.](http://news.yahoo.com/wrong-turn-grants-glimpse-behind-n-korean-curtain-130351132.html) But, maybe, as the article suggests, things are opening up. They didn’t close the curtains, confiscate the cameras or wipe the minds of the journalists. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haha-north-korean-rocket-crashes-and-burns-within-one-minute-of-takeoff/618623/60 "2012-04-13T21:58:40Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > You might even say they have a problem. Heh. Being left out of a North Korean nuclear strike, I should have such problems… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haha-north-korean-rocket-crashes-and-burns-within-one-minute-of-takeoff/618623.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haha-north-korean-rocket-crashes-and-burns-within-one-minute-of-takeoff/618623.md?page=4)