Virgin spacecraft debris show it may have broke up in flight

November 02, 2014 11:40

Investigators looking into what caused the crash of a Virgin Galactic prototype spacecraft that killed one of two test pilots said a 5-mile path of debris across the California desert indicates the aircraft broke up in flight.

"When the wreckage is dispersed like that, it indicates the likelihood of inflight breakup," National Transportation Safety Board Acting Chairman Christopher A Hart said late last night.

Learning where aircraft parts fell will help investigators determine when and how the breakup occurred, he said.

The crash almost certainly dashed founder Richard Branson's goal of starting commercial suborbital flight next spring, but the mogul said that while he remained committed to civilian space travel "we are not going to push on blindly."

In grim remarks at the Mojave Air and Space Port, where the craft known as SpaceShipTwo was under development, Branson gave no details of Friday's accident and deferred to the NTSB, whose team began its first day of investigation yesterday.

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

J-K polls: Will Cong-NC alliance benefit from DPAP withdrawal?

The withdrawal of the candidature by DPAP leaders on the last day on August 30 is seen as a boost to the NC-Congress alliance.

Paralympics: Archer Rakesh knocked out in semi-finals

Rakesh started on the backfoot with Ken pulling off a perfect first end shooting 30 out of 30, while the Indian dropped a point.

Paralympics: Yathiraj downs compatriot Kadam for SL4 final spot

Manisha vs Thulasimathi to decide India's medal colour

9 killed as heavy rains lash Telangana; 99 trains cancelled

Due to heavy rains and waterlogging over the tracks at several locations on South Central Railway network, as many as 99 trains were cancelled and four trains were partially cancelled while 54 trains were diverted, an SCR official said.

Andhra rains: Vijayawada flooded, over 2.7L affected, says Naidu

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the weather situation with senior officials and asked them to incorporate technologies such as drones to assess the deluge and accordingly plan the relief works.