NASA’s unmanned Antares rocket exploded at launch above Wallops Island, Virginia, yesterday on route to dropping off supplies at the International Space Station.
A lesser casualty of that explosion? One rocket watcher’s iPad, which was blown to smithereens by the explosion.
But don’t worry. Cupertino did the right thing: They replaced it.
Over on Reddit, redditor iOSecure wrote about the act-of-god mishap that befell his iPad 2:
I had never seen a rocket launch before and I read it would be on Virginia where I live. So I drove 6 hours Monday to see it and the launch was scrubbed because a boat decided to drive directly under the launch path… I decided to go back again Tuesday and this time I setup my iPad to take a time lapse on the ledge of the road, it was being held by the Smart Cover…. Rocket launches everything looks good and then it blows up, about 15 seconds later the shockwaves comes and knocks my iPad down into the swamp. I can’t see it because the water is so murky and when I finally get it it doesn’t turn on so I lost the video also… Tried cleaning it and plugging it into iTunes nothing happens
It seemed like he was out of luck. However, after being prompted by his fellow redditors to try bringing the iPad into the Genius Bar to tell them “it landed in a swamp because a spaceship exploded,” iOSecure found himself rewarded for his good faith.
I just went to the Genius Bar and explained what happened. He called out the manager and the manager said “I think we’ve officially seen it all” she then offered a free replacement but on 16GB instead of 64 which I had (not complaining)
This is why I can’t leave apple… It’s not a refurb either
I’ve got nothing to add. This is why Apple is great. Now if only they could replace the Antares rocket this easily.
Source: Reddit
John Brownlee is a writer for Fast Company, and a contributing writer here at CoM. He has also written for Wired, Playboy, Boing Boing, Popular Mechanics, VentureBeat, and Gizmodo. He lives in Boston with his wife and two parakeets. You can follow him here on Twitter.
20 responses to “Apple replaces iPad destroyed by exploding NASA rocket”
wasnt Nasa’s Rocket……. It was Orbital Sciences Corp..
Exactly.
But when NASA/US govt was involved in their early years… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opIQKrKHke4
Well, to be fair, the right thing would have been for the rocket’s manufacturers to replace the iPad. I’m pretty sure Apple never guaranteed the iPad safe from rocket explosions.
If you make the proof of this disaster, Just like this NASA explosion and Apple willing to replace it.
What are you nuts!!! It’s right there in the fine print “Apple will hereby replace any iPad exposed to rocket explosions to where which by whenever it occurs nearby any swamp”
Show us a screenshot then.
If he had AppleCare, then they would just charge a nominal amount for a full replacement unit.
not really. just living in the USA means you inherently have the risk of you or your property being destroyed due to rocket explosions. or being SWATted.
Hard to do, when it’s outdated Russian tech….
And he/she got a new iPad with 75% less memory because…
…because Apple was under no obligation to do anything at all. Talking about looking a gift horse in the mouth!
Frankly it is neither Orbital Sciences Corp’s or Apple’s responsibility to replace the iPad. Crap happens and when you are in the flight path or near the launch site of a rocket, you take that risk.
I think it was actually awesome of Apple to replace the iPad, but do question as to why not go ahead and replace it at the same spec. That’s like saying here we are going to do the unprecedented and replace your iPad – but with a lower model. I think either go all out and match the iPad being replaced or don’t bother.
Now they should sell the 16gb and then make up the difference to buy the 64gb and its like paying an insurance policy.
Not NASA’s rocket. Do slightly more minimal research next time and get basics facts.
The story is about getting the iPad replaced, not about whose rocket blew up. Sheesh!!!
How can I take this “journalist” seriously if they don’t get all of their facts straight? It’s not like I’m being a grammar nazi!
I have a couple of questions?
Firstly is it really anybody but the owner fault for putting their Ipad on a post, that is clearly to small to support it (based on the picture), especially on the side of the road
Secondly (again based on the picture) Why would you put a power pole in a swamp so close to the road? The swamp looks a good distance from the Ipad, must have been one heck of a blast….I’m astounded that the Ipad owner and his car didn’t end up in the swamp aswell
Just a PR move. Not a bad one, but I’d hate to be the escalation point in Apple Customer Service now, with every customer who bashed their iPad asking for the same thing…
FYI, this is also possible because they have huge margins. Anytime anyone charges you too much, they have money for this kind of accomodations…
Get a NUUD….