Credit: AP/BBC
Update: US National Transport Safety Board investigation has revealed the accident was caused by premature deployment of the re-entry system.
Virgin’s launch system has a “re-useable first stage” in the form of the jet-powered aircraft, White Knight 2. At 40,000 feet, SpaceShip 2, the second stage, is dropped, the pilot starts the rocket engine, & the craft continues to around 350,000 feet.
Virgin rocket motors are of a relatively new type, using rubber as fuel, with nitrous oxide as the oxidising agent. Porous rubber allows the oxidiser to diffuse through. Throttle control is obtained by varying the flow of nitrous oxide.
Rocket motors by their very nature, release huge amounts of energy in a very short period of time. By this means, they achieve amazing outcomes, such as lifting SpaceShip 2 to 350,000 feet. Sometimes the mechanisms creating, containing & directing this energy, fail.
Spaceship 2 wreckage
Credit: KABC News in Los Angeles/Phys Org
And space tourism? Virgin had plans to carry it's first paying passengers into space in 2015. That schedule will have to be revised.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-29857182
http://phys.org/news/2014-10-virgin-space-tourism-years-experts.html / pilot killed injured Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo space tourism craft crashed California desert flying manned test a serious anomaly first powered test flight since January Mojave Desert north of Los Angeles Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson shocked and saddened tragic loss blog post deeply saddened space is hard persevere and move forward together Dr David Whitehouse space scientist no such thing as routine regular safe access to space both pilots Scaled Composites designed pronounced dead transported local hospital debris Ken Brown photographer exploded released National Transportation Safety Board Saturday morning investigate cause accident supporting investigation George Whitesides chief executive of Virgin Galactic new type of rocket motor development challenge exceptionally hard /
