SpaceShipTwo Reactions
Comments from Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Galactic
“This is a very tough time for all of us at Virgin Galactic, The Spaceship Company and Scaled Composites, and our thoughts remain with the families of the brave Scaled pilots, and all those affected by this tragedy. We are determined to find out what went wrong and are working with the authorities to get that information. It is too early for me to add any details of the investigation at this stage.”
– SNC Statement in Response to Inquiries Regarding Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo Incident
– Space Frontier Foundation Mourns This Week’s Events Involving SpaceShipTwo and Orb-3
– Media Update from Virgin Galactic – Oct. 31, 2014 6:15PM PST
– Statement from New Mexico Spaceport Authority on the SpaceShipTwo Mishap
– Statement from NASA Administrator on Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo Mishap
– FAA Statement on SpaceShipTwo Incident
– Smith, Palazzo Statement on SpaceShipTwo Anomaly
I hope Palazzo changes now on safety. The space committee would not let FAA put out any rules. They said the private companies know what they are doing. May not make a difference, but I would like to see it. I hope he will embrace safety and not make NASA launch crew on SLS. USAF said they would die because of the chunks of flaming debris from solids on Ares-1 destruct and I don’t see any difference with SLS or Atlas. I don’t see getting far enough away because the chunks are faster. He should insist on no solids or with SLS, to ferry the crew to Orion. The main engines could be shut off and the capsule might get far enough away. It would not work for an abort right after launch. I regret that NASA never gave this reason not to use SLS to ISS, but that it would cost too much.
SpaceShipTwo is really an experimental craft. Experimental craft shouldn’t be carrying paying passengers.