Rolling thunder: it’s an unusually cold day for a launch. Did you manage to check the O-ring around the right SRB?

Short fuse: no

MISSIN FAILED  
Rainbow Dash failed her performance!

RD is terrified by the giant medical bill for Scoots.  
The rocket went flying by itself, and Scoots was not hurt at all except for a slight burn by the fire. The bill is still awful, though.

Obviously a major malfunction.

That is in awful taste…. but it probably would’ve happened.

I fully expected that rocket to explode after Rainbow whisked Scootaloo away.

The rubber seals on the fuel tanks let the fuel escape and catch fire, because the launch was on a day so cold the rubber seals (“O-rings”) couldn’t stretch right. The crew capsule survived the explosion, and they died when they hit the water at terminal velocity. It was tragedy caused by bureaucracy, made more tragic because the first schoolteacher astronaut was aboard.
 
It would be like the Wonderbolts and Cheerilee dying because Prince Blueblood was in charge of the LOX rockets.

It would be hilarious is that happened instead.

@Background Pony #974D  
I think some of the theories have some measurements of truth in them. They basically died instantly and there probably wasn’t anything left to fry.

@Background Pony #4B5D  
Conspiracy theorists come up with the darndest things.  
Nevertheless, good thing Scoots didn’t fry unlike those 7 crewpeople.

@Background Pony #974D  
I know. Some say it was hit by an experimental weapon. For some reason.

@Background Pony #4B5D  
Nah, that’s the failed launch of the Challenger. It exploded before exiting the atmosphere and the entire crew died.

Is it bad that I’m laughing at this?

im dying XD how didnt i think of this before omg

Didnt it get hit by an energy weapon?