Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo crashes; 1 dead, 1 injured

[Cow Poke]

A setback for private space travel?

Source: LATimes

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo, part of a commercial space venture founded by British billionaire Richard Branson, crashed during testing Friday. One person was killed and another injured.

"Space is hard and today was a tough day," said George Whitesides, the CEO of Virgin Galactic.

Two people were aboard SpaceShipTwo and a California Highway Patrol spokesperson said two people were found near the crash in the desert north of California City and east of Mojave. One of the individuals had parachuted out of the aircraft, and another was located near the scene as well, California Highway Patrol said. Their names have not been released.

© Copyright Original Source

[Juvenal]

Antares Rocket Explosion - First Hand Account From NASA Wallops | Video

Second failure this week.

[Irate Canadian]

er for the people involved.

[Cow Poke]

Antares Rocket Explosion - First Hand Account From NASA Wallops | Video

Second failure this week.

Yeah, that's why it really hit me.

[Sparko]

a sad week.

[Darth Executor]

I wonder if Russia was involved.

[Cow Poke]

The Daily Beast is reporting they were using engines that had not been tested. If that's true.... wow.

Source: DailyBeast

The Daily Beast

HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM
10.31.14
SpaceShipTwo Flew on Untested Rocket
Richard Branson’s plane meant to carry tourists into space never tested a new engine using new fuel before it flew—and exploded—over California on Friday.

Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo crashed in the California desert Friday after testing a new rocket motor for the first time in flight. The company said an “in-flight anomaly” occurred. Law enforcement said one pilot was killed and the other was seriously injured.

© Copyright Original Source

[Leonhard]

I wonder if Russia was involved.

Antaras, like the US military, uses rocket engines made in Russia. This is starting to become controversial, though United Launch Alliance keeps reassuring people that they have many supplies of the engines in case Russia suddenly cuts off productions, and they recently acquired the blueprints so they can make their own.

So far SpaceX is the only US company who's successfully launched a vehicle to the Space Station, returned cargo, all with their own engines originally based off the Saturn 5 engines.

And yet ULA was awarded as the sole supplier with the military contracts. Even though they currently charge three times more than SpaceX would for the deliveries.