| abstract
| - The scientists at NASA have decided that the optimum location from which to launch their Martian Space Probe rocket is in England, so they transport it fully fueled and containing two engineers completing the launch preparations. To get to the launch site, however, the huge transport lorry must cross over the Allington Suspension Bridge, which was hit by a massive storm the night before. The load is well within the overall capacity of the bridge, but one engineer points out that this is meant for spread out traffic, not one concentrated mass. As the MSP slowly travels over the bridge, the suspension cables begin to snap and the bridge collapses, tipping the MSP from the transporter vehicle into the Allington River. The rocket lands on the sea bed in an upright launch position, but covered in debris from the bridge. The impact sets off the automatic launch countdown, which will destroy the rocket and kill the two engineers trapped in the command module.
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