>Also, I'm really interested in knowing if the fireball was performed by the automated abort system. No, that was the rocket breaking up and exploding. If the

>Also, I'm really interested in knowing if the fireball was performed by the automated abort system. No, that was the rocket breaking up and exploding. If the range safety system had triggered, it would have blown up the second stage, which flew off and crashed into the ocean in a massive explosion The capsule controlled the abort. It shuts down the main engines then lights it own engines. These things aren't instant, it takes a second to spin up turbo pumps and get fuel flowing and for the fuel in the lines of the main engine to flow out after it sends the signal - that's why the rocket exhaust was still burning as the abort system lit up.