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One person dead as Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo rocket plane crashes on test flight One person dead as Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo rocket plane crashes on test flight
(36 minutes later)
A Virgin Galactic spacecraft crashed after an explosion during a test flight over the Mojave desert on Friday, killing one of the pilots, seriously injuring another and leaving debris scattered over a wide area.A Virgin Galactic spacecraft crashed after an explosion during a test flight over the Mojave desert on Friday, killing one of the pilots, seriously injuring another and leaving debris scattered over a wide area.
The plane, SpaceShipTwo, was undertaking a test flight as part of Virgin Galactic’s plans for commercial space travel when a “serious anomaly” occurred, the company said.The plane, SpaceShipTwo, was undertaking a test flight as part of Virgin Galactic’s plans for commercial space travel when a “serious anomaly” occurred, the company said.
Two pilots are usually on board for the test flights, launched from a base in the Mojave desert. The California Highway Patrol confirmed that one person was dead and another had suffered “major injuries” in the accident, which happened at 10.51am local time. The survivor was flown to hospital by air ambulance. Witnesses reported the spacecraft broke apart soon after it was detached from the plane that carries it to 45,000ft. Rescuers found one of the pilots dead on the ground. Another, who appeared to have deployed an emergency parachute, was airlifted to a hospital with serious injuries.
“We are going to secure the scene until the appropriate agency that investigates this comes out,” said Jesse Borne, a California Highway officer based in Mojave. The crash served as another stark reminder the dangers of space exploration, three days after an unmanned rocket on supply mission to the international space station exploded seconds after takeoff from a Nasa launch facility in Virginia.
A spokesman for Kern County sheriff said the co-pilot of the plane had been killed, while the pilot ejected and suffered “moderate to major injuries”. “Space is hard, and today was a tough day,” said George Whitesides, CEO and president of Virgin Galactic, at a news conference.
SpaceShipTwo is the second-stage launch vehicle for Virgin Galactic’s space flight program. It is designed to disconnect from the propeller-engined WhiteKnight (WK2) craft and ascend to space under rocket power, then return to earth on its own power. Two pilots are usually on board for Virgin Galactic’s test flights, launched from a base in the Mojave desert. The identities of those involved in Friday’s accident, which happened just before 11am local time, were not immediately disclosed.
Virgin Galactic, part-owner by the entrepreneur Richard Branson, said its top concern was the status of the pilots onboard SpaceShipTwo, which was operated in partnership with the aerospace company Scaled Composites. In a series of posts on Twitter, the company said: “Virgin Galactic’s partner Scaled Composites conducted a powered test flight of #SpaceShipTwo earlier today. During the test, the vehicle suffered a serious anomaly resulting in the loss of SpaceShipTwo. WK2 landed safely.” The California Highway Patrol confirmed that one person was dead and another had suffered “major injuries” in the accident, which happened at 10.51am local time. The survivor was flown to hospital by air ambulance.
A spokesman for Kern County sheriff said the co-pilot of the plane had been killed, while the pilot ejected.
SpaceShipTwo is the second-stage launch vehicle for Virgin Galactic’s space flight program. It is designed to disconnect from the propeller-engined WhiteKnight (WK2) craft and ascend to space under rocket power, then returns to earth.
Virgin Galactic, part-owned by the entrepreneur Richard Branson, said its top concern was the status of the pilots onboard SpaceShipTwo, which was operated in partnership with the aerospace company Scaled Composites. In a series of posts on Twitter, the company said: “Virgin Galactic’s partner Scaled Composites conducted a powered test flight of SpaceShipTwo earlier today. During the test, the vehicle suffered a serious anomaly resulting in the loss of SpaceShipTwo. WK2 landed safely.”
Ken Brown, a photographer who saw the crash, said the space tourism craft exploded after it was released from the carrier plane, the Associated Press reported.Ken Brown, a photographer who saw the crash, said the space tourism craft exploded after it was released from the carrier plane, the Associated Press reported.
Doug Messier, a blogger who runs the website Parabolic Arc, which reports on space news, wrote on Twitter that he witnessed the crash from Jawbone Station, which is on a ridge overlooking the desert where the craft crashed.Doug Messier, a blogger who runs the website Parabolic Arc, which reports on space news, wrote on Twitter that he witnessed the crash from Jawbone Station, which is on a ridge overlooking the desert where the craft crashed.
“We saw the twin contrails of WhiteKnightTwo overhead. They do that prior to a drop,” he tweeted. “SpaceShipTwo dropped. From what I could tell, motor fired and then stopped then fired again. I think that’s what happened.”“We saw the twin contrails of WhiteKnightTwo overhead. They do that prior to a drop,” he tweeted. “SpaceShipTwo dropped. From what I could tell, motor fired and then stopped then fired again. I think that’s what happened.”
During the test, the vehicle suffered a serious anomaly resulting in the loss of SpaceShipTwo. WK2 landed safely. (2 of 4)During the test, the vehicle suffered a serious anomaly resulting in the loss of SpaceShipTwo. WK2 landed safely. (2 of 4)
He reported that clouds made it hard to see clearly, but it appeared that SpaceShipTwo “broke apart and started coming down in pieces over the desert.” He added: “We started seeing clouds of dirt where pieces of the ship came down. One after another. At least three.” Messier reported then driving to one of the debris sites. “Debris from the ship was scattered all over the road,” he said.He reported that clouds made it hard to see clearly, but it appeared that SpaceShipTwo “broke apart and started coming down in pieces over the desert.” He added: “We started seeing clouds of dirt where pieces of the ship came down. One after another. At least three.” Messier reported then driving to one of the debris sites. “Debris from the ship was scattered all over the road,” he said.
‘Space is hard’ Whitesides, the Virgin Galactic CEO, said Branson was on his way to Mojave and would arrive on Saturday. “We are going to be supporting the investigation as we figure out what happened today and we are going to get through it.”
George Whitesides, CEO and president of Virgin Galactic, told a news conference that Branson was on his way to Mojave and would arrive on Saturday. “Space is hard, and today was a tough day,” he said. “We are going to be supporting the investigation as we figure out what happened today and we are going to get through it.”
The Federal Aviation Administration said it was investigating the accident. It said: “Just after 10am PT today, ground controllers at the Mojave Spaceport lost contact with SpaceShipTwo, an experimental space flight vehicle. The incident occurred over the Mojave desert shortly after the space flight vehicle separated from WhiteKnightTwo, the vehicle that carried it aloft.The Federal Aviation Administration said it was investigating the accident. It said: “Just after 10am PT today, ground controllers at the Mojave Spaceport lost contact with SpaceShipTwo, an experimental space flight vehicle. The incident occurred over the Mojave desert shortly after the space flight vehicle separated from WhiteKnightTwo, the vehicle that carried it aloft.
“Two crew members were on board SpaceShipTwo at the time of the incident. WhiteKnightTwo remained airborne after the incident.”“Two crew members were on board SpaceShipTwo at the time of the incident. WhiteKnightTwo remained airborne after the incident.”
NBC News reported that the aircraft was forced to wait on the runway at the test site for three hours before it took off, while the ground team assessed the weather conditions.NBC News reported that the aircraft was forced to wait on the runway at the test site for three hours before it took off, while the ground team assessed the weather conditions.
In 2011, SpaceShip Two experienced a malfunction during re-entry during a test flight, though the pilots were able to correct the problem and land the craft successfully.In 2011, SpaceShip Two experienced a malfunction during re-entry during a test flight, though the pilots were able to correct the problem and land the craft successfully.
Virgin Galactic is owned by Branson’s Virgin group and Aabar Investments PJS, an investment company owned, via the International Petroleum Investment Company, by the government of Abu Dhabi. Analysts have been sceptical about whether Branson’s plans for commercial space travel can be achieved. The launch date has been repeatedly delayed.Virgin Galactic is owned by Branson’s Virgin group and Aabar Investments PJS, an investment company owned, via the International Petroleum Investment Company, by the government of Abu Dhabi. Analysts have been sceptical about whether Branson’s plans for commercial space travel can be achieved. The launch date has been repeatedly delayed.
About 800 people, including Tom Hanks and Angelina Jolie, had paid to book a two-hour journey into space on SpaceShipTwo, which would include a planned five minutes of weightlessness.About 800 people, including Tom Hanks and Angelina Jolie, had paid to book a two-hour journey into space on SpaceShipTwo, which would include a planned five minutes of weightlessness.
The accident is the second this week to hit a private US space company. On Tuesday, an Orbital Sciences Antares rocket exploded 15 seconds after liftoff from Wallops Island, Virginia, destroying a cargo ship bound for the International Space Station.The accident is the second this week to hit a private US space company. On Tuesday, an Orbital Sciences Antares rocket exploded 15 seconds after liftoff from Wallops Island, Virginia, destroying a cargo ship bound for the International Space Station.
Last year Chris Hadfield, the Canadian astronaut whose tweeted photos, videos and rendition of David Bowie’s Space Oddity brought him global fame during a stint on the International Space Station, questioned what kind of experience future space tourists will have with Virgin Galactic, saying they are “just going to go up and fall back down again”.Last year Chris Hadfield, the Canadian astronaut whose tweeted photos, videos and rendition of David Bowie’s Space Oddity brought him global fame during a stint on the International Space Station, questioned what kind of experience future space tourists will have with Virgin Galactic, saying they are “just going to go up and fall back down again”.
He said: “They’ll get a few minutes of weightlessness, and they’ll see the black of the universe. And they’ll see the curve of the Earth and the horizon, because they’ll be above the air. But whether that’ll be enough for the quarter-million-dollar price tag, I don’t know.”He said: “They’ll get a few minutes of weightlessness, and they’ll see the black of the universe. And they’ll see the curve of the Earth and the horizon, because they’ll be above the air. But whether that’ll be enough for the quarter-million-dollar price tag, I don’t know.”
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