On Sept. 26, 1983, a Russian Soyuz rocket exploded on the launchpad. [‘On This Day in Space’ Video Series on Space.com](https://www.space.com/39251-on-this-day-in-space.html)

Two cosmonauts were inside the spacecraft, and they barely made it out alive. About 90 seconds before the rocket was supposed to launch, a fire erupted. Thankfully the emergency escape system ejected their space capsule from the top of the rocket just two seconds before the fire caused the explosion. So far this has been the only time that a launch escape system had to be used.