Two pilot dead as Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo rocket plane crashes
Tragedy struck on October 31, 2014, when Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo a suborbital space plane crashed during a rocket-powered test flight in California resulting in the death of co-pilot Michael Alsbury and serious injuries to pilot Peter Siebold ¹ ².
The incident occurred just after the rocket motor ignited, causing the spacecraft to suffer a catastrophic in-flight breakup and crash in the Mojave Desert near Cantil, California ¹ ². SpaceShipTwo was on its fourth powered flight test, PF04, and was dropped from its carrier aircraft, WhiteKnightTwo, after taking off from the Mojave Air and Space Port ¹.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation, the crash was caused by Alsbury’s premature unlocking of the air brake device used for atmospheric re-entry ¹. The NTSB also cited inadequate design safeguards, poor pilot training, and lack of rigorous oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as contributing factors to the accident ¹.
*Crash Details:*
– _Date:_ October 31, 2014
– _Location:_ Mojave Desert, California
– _Aircraft:_ Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo
– _Pilots:_ Michael Alsbury (killed) and Peter Siebold (injured)
– _Cause:_ Premature unlocking of air brake device and inadequate design safeguards ¹
Virgin Galactic’s CEO, George Whitesides, stated that “space is hard, and today was a tough day” ². The company has since taken steps to improve safety measures and continue its spaceflight program.
In 2021, both Alsbury and Siebold were honorarily awarded the FAA Commercial Astronaut Wings ¹. The incident serves as a reminder of the risks and challenges involved in space exploration and the importance of prioritizing safety.
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