A Soviet N1 rocket failed during its launch, causing the largest rocket explosion in recorded history.
The Soviet Union pinned all their hopes and dreams of landing anything on the moon on their N1 rocket, but time was against them. They tried to launch the N1 four times, but the second launch was the most catastrophic. A few seconds after lift-off, some of its engines failed, and it tipped on its side and crashed on its launch pad, blowing it up completely.