UPDATE-Garlock, CA (Friday, Oct. 31, 2014 at 1:30 p.m.)—One test pilot is reported dead and the other seriously injured in the explosion this morning of the Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo rocket plane, developed by Virgin Airlines’ Sir Richard Branson for suborbital antigravity commercial flights for tourists. It is reported that the explosion debris is scattered over two miles north of Mojave, and that the rocket engine had not been turned on for nine months before this powered test flight. A new fuel formulation was being tested. A successful ‘gliding’ flight test, without engine powered up, was conducted October 7.
The Kern County Fire Department issued this statement, just now: At approximately 9 a.m. this morning, the Kern County Fire Department received a call for an aircraft down. KCFD arrived on-scene to secure the area for any hazards. All hazards are now stable. Helicopter 408 landed and engaged in full patient care. The 408 crew secured the area. KCFD transferred command to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office. The scene is under investigation. KDSO is the lead investigative authority.
In a separate incident on Tuesday this week, another privately-owned space rocket exploded as it was leaving the launch pad in Virginia. Orbital Science’s Antares rocket had no crew, but 5,000 pounds of supplies and scientific experiments headed for the International Space Station. An Orbital Science official said that the craft was deliberately exploded when it was clear there had been a malfunction and the craft was not likely to be able to accomplish its mission. Early theories about the cause of that malfunction focused on a rebuilt 1970s rocket engine that was originally built in the USSR.
Mojave Air and Space Port (Friday, Oct. 31, 2014 at 11:10 a.m.)—The Kern County Sheriff’s Office said it is on scene of a spaceship accident in the desert. They are telling media to stage near Redrock, Randsburg area. Kern County firefighters said an aircraft is down “somewhere between Highways 395 and 14 off Garlock Road.”
Minutes earlier, the Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo craft, developed by Virgin Airlines’ Sir Richard Branson for suborbital commercial flights for tourists, was reported to have had an “In-flight anomaly” reported the Bakersfield Californian, quoting NBC News about the event during a powered test flight today. It was said that the firing of a rocket engine preceded the event.
This is part of the October 31, 2014 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.
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