November 3, 2014
Mariah Timms
News Writer
Nation
Virgin Galactic, the arm of the Virgin Group that also includes Virgin Mobile and Virgin Atlantic, plans to continue the commercial space program even after Friday’s fatal crash. SpaceShipTwo disintegrated less than two minutes after separating from the aircraft that carried it up. Co-pilot Michael Tyner Alsbury was killed in the accident. His co-pilot Peter Siebold was able to parachute to the ground with moderate injuries and survived the accident. The accident was caused by a problem with the “feathering” equipment that stabilizes and slows the descent of the craft on the way back down. The feathers were opened prematurely during the ascent, either by human or machine error. National Transportation Safety Board acting Chairman Christopher Hart said the full investigation might take more than a year to complete. Virgin Galactic has announced they will continue the program while working in full cooperation with the NTSB.
