DocM Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 There are unconfirmed rumors it broke up while under rocket power. Virgin Galactic ?@virgingalactic #SpaceShipTwo has experienced an in-flight anomaly. Additional info and statement forthcoming. 10:13 AM (Mojave time) - 31 Oct 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted October 31, 2014 Author Share Posted October 31, 2014 AlanStern ?@AlanStern @Simberg_Space I am told they are on chute. From the scene, Others are also reporting parachutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted October 31, 2014 Author Share Posted October 31, 2014 Kern County (CA) police scanner reports an aircraft down and a chopper being sent to look for parachutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neufuse Veteran Posted October 31, 2014 Veteran Share Posted October 31, 2014 oh great, another rocket failure potentially... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dot Matrix Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Was it manned? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted October 31, 2014 Author Share Posted October 31, 2014 A crew of 2. Unconfirmed report of one survivor, one dead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicane-UK Veteran Posted October 31, 2014 Veteran Share Posted October 31, 2014 Jesus. Not good :( You can almost hear the sound of lots of wealthy people cancelling their tickets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted October 31, 2014 Author Share Posted October 31, 2014 Survivor said to have neck & back pain, but details are very sketchy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted October 31, 2014 Author Share Posted October 31, 2014 Unconfirmed report of 3 on board. http://www.kerngoldenempire.com/news/local/story/d/story/spaceshiptwo-crashes-shortly-after-mojave-test-fli/11401/64VdLqg21EWpK1vuptvTsg SpaceShipTwo, the Virgin Galactic space plane, has crashed east of Mojave, according to the director of the Mojave Air and Space Port Stu Witt. Witt said a 2 p.m. news conference has been scheduled, and no further details will be available until then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted October 31, 2014 Author Share Posted October 31, 2014 Report that one was found still in his seat, which sounds like a catastropic event. ParabolicArc @spacecom Ss2 blew up. Came down in pieces. At one of debris sites. http://www.twitter.com/spacecom/status/528250882585288704 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dot Matrix Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Following on Twitter now. Not a good week for private space flight. Sounds like 1 pilot is KIA. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted October 31, 2014 Author Share Posted October 31, 2014 ParabolicArc @spacecom We drove to one of the debris sites. Debris from the ship was scattered all over the road. @VirginGalactic #SpaceShipTwo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dot Matrix Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Per AP: BREAKING: California Highway Patrol reports 1 fatality, 1 major injury after SpaceShipTwo accident. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boo Berry Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Oh boy, not good. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted October 31, 2014 Author Share Posted October 31, 2014 Reports are an engine start, a stop, a restart then a catastropic failure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Gibs Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Unconfirmed reports that the second pilot has died too. Damn :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloatingFatMan Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Oh crap... :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HawkMan Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 This might be the end of this whole endeavour and a serious damper on the private space tourism business. but we'll see, rich people might still have more money then sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xenon Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Official photographer says that a explosion occurred in the air. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obry Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Damn :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted October 31, 2014 Author Share Posted October 31, 2014 Reports are an engine start, a stop, a restart then a catastrophic failure. This won't bode well for Dream Chaser's CCtCap protest since it, for now, also uses hybrid engines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingskippy Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Definitely a blow to SNC and all parties involved. I don't see virgin galactic going anywhere now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+LogicalApex MVC Posted October 31, 2014 MVC Share Posted October 31, 2014 This might be the end of this whole endeavour and a serious damper on the private space tourism business. but we'll see, rich people might still have more money then sense. Hopefully this isn't a Challenger Disaster for private space flights. Very tragic news for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neufuse Veteran Posted October 31, 2014 Veteran Share Posted October 31, 2014 Didn't they just change the fuel type for this flight? dvb2000 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HawkMan Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Hopefully this isn't a Challenger Disaster for private space flights. Very tragic news for sure. hopefully not, but it's a young market that's still in development, and we know from history that such things can easily be dealt a quick and early death from such events. I suspect there's to much prestige and money behind these to stop them now though, but it might depend on how many prototypes they have flying, it they have any more, and how much time and money it would take to get the next one ready. It also helps that we have several companies competing in this market which should help prevent a complete shutdown IF the government don't f it up and step in and shut down everything for months and months while they hire consultants and set up groups to decide if this stuff should still be allowed or if it's to dangerous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts