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SpaceShipOne performed the oxider test several times without incident. Scale Composites reports SpaceShipTwo performed the cold-flow oxidizer test once flawlessly before today's fatal accident.  (Source: Scaled Composites)
SpaceShipTwo rocket motor explodes killing three, injuring three more

Scaled Composites reports that an explosion at its Mojave-based spaceport has killed three people and critically injured three more. The explosion occurred during a test of components for a nitrous powered rocket engine for SpaceShipTwo, the successor to Burt Rutan’s famous SpaceShipOne.


The company's website states, "Eric Blackwell, 38, Glen May, 45, and Todd Ivens, 33, were killed by an explosion that occurred during a routine cold-flow test of the oxidizer system we’re developing for SpaceShipTwo."
 

SpaceShipOne was the first private manned space craft to reach space. SpaceShipTwo was built under a partnership between Rutan and Billionaire Richard Branson to construct a fleet of commercial space vehicles for Virgin Galactic. Neither Branson nor Rutan stated how this explosion might affect the partnership or the plans for the space fleet.

 

A Kern County Medical Center Official said two of the injured people died at the scene and another died at the hospital post surgery. The injuries suffered by three of the victims were caused by numerous shrapnel wounds.

 

Rutan says that this same test had been conducted numerous times with SpaceShipOne and that the test had been conducted once before on SpaceShipTwo.


Branson invested more than $200 million for a fleet of Rutan’s spacecraft with the intention of selling rides for $200,000 each to tourists brave enough to fly 62 miles above the Earth’s surface. The first commercial flight for the fleet was expected to happen in 2009.

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My condolences
By James Holden on 7/27/2007 5:51:54 PM , Rating: 6
My condolences to the friends and family of the victims. I hope the project is able to recover from this tragedy.




RE: My condolences
By Lazarus Dark on 7/27/2007 10:42:36 PM , Rating: 5
Yes, a tragedy indeed. But I hope no one tries to shut them down. Innovation must move forward. Certainly an investigation must be launched and proper precautions for the future taken. This will delay the project but I am rooting for it to continue. I want my kids to see mars.


RE: My condolences
By alifbaa on 7/27/2007 11:41:27 PM , Rating: 5
Unfortunately, the path to innovation always seems to be laid with tragedy. Here is what I believe they died creating and what others will live on to complete...

I think that what they are creating today will go far beyond simple suborbital tourism flights with 6 minutes of weightlessness and will very quickly become high speed trans-global travel and then who knows what will come next. In the early 1900's, do you think even the Wright brothers would have imagined what we routinely do with aircraft today? Do you think they would have ever guessed how many people on Earth have experienced flight?

These people are the Wright brothers of our time. I firmly believe that what they are doing today is laying the ground work for what will be a fundamental revision in the way we see the world. They will have even more effect than the Wright brothers.


space shuttle pilots drink up...
By CrystalBay on 7/27/2007 5:53:12 PM , Rating: 5
This is the reason space shuttle pilots drink before launch !!




By Yahooligan on 7/27/2007 6:49:08 PM , Rating: 2
This is the reason space shuttle pilots drink before launch !!

Sick. Funny. But sick.


By wingless on 7/28/2007 12:50:54 AM , Rating: 2
I thought the same thing earlier. They have a few millions of pounds of rocket fuel under their butts so they have a shot or two before a launch for the nerves. They'll sober up really fast upon blastoff.

This is a very tragic event and it shows that going to space is and always will be dangerous. Their lives wont be in vain as improvements will come from all of this. Pray for their families and honor their sacrifice.


By Screwballl on 7/28/2007 12:41:10 PM , Rating: 2
I agree... nothing like a good shot of courage before sitting on top of a launching explosive bull.

I say let them have a shot or two. Of course when testing these things.. wait to have the drinks until after the experiment.

The families of those lost are in my prayers.


Safety??
By austenite on 7/30/2007 10:32:33 AM , Rating: 3
The article doesn't state the details...but how did this happen? you would think that during a test everyone would be in a safe area to be protected in case of engine failure. Isn't that standard practice in any sort of test cell? Sounds like a totally avoidable tragedy. Slack safety practices.




Ticket
By Alphafox78 on 7/27/07, Rating: 0
RE: Ticket
By DragonMaster0 on 7/27/07, Rating: 0
Sigh.
By Suomynona on 7/28/07, Rating: -1
RE: Sigh.
By ThisSpaceForRent on 7/28/2007 11:30:10 AM , Rating: 5
As opposed to the publicly funded nerds? Not sure what you're trying to say with your statement here. Where your funding comes from in no way affects your intelligence, or the dumb luck of the universe.


RE: Sigh.
By kiwimark on 7/28/2007 10:46:55 PM , Rating: 5
What an insensitive post, these people are true visionaries.

Unbelievable... and it's not like NASA are doing the perfect job of it. They're having to outsource to the private space industry because of their major internal problems.


RE: Sigh.
By Ryanman on 7/29/2007 11:07:59 PM , Rating: 1
man, are you kidding. Have you actually SEEN the US government lately? Tell me, who does better with mail - the US government or FEDex? Is our government education system up to par? Do our politicians regualarly excercise great money handling? And as a previous poster pointed out, NASA is an excercise in irresponsible spending and pipedreams the Government uses to make you think that we're making scientific progress.

Sorry charlie - american buisness is the future and their extremely quick progress on two spaceships proves that.


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