Explosion at Scaled Composites – What will the aftermath be?
The general public took a hit today along with the families of those lost and all the employees of Scaled Composites when an explosion ripped through a remote testing facility in Mojave.
Details are scant at this time, but a explosion at the Scaled Composites rocket test facility has killed 3 people and seriously injured 3 more. The Los Angeles Times reports that the explosion was ‘ignited by a tank of nitrous oxide.’ This is Burt Rutan’s facility, and the home of SpaceShipOne and Virgin Galactic spacecraft development.
The future of private space fight teeters in the balance of what the outcome of the investigation might hold. Was NASA correct in saying that spaceflight is too dangerous for the private sector? Was Burt Rutan correct when they decided to push the envelope with the SpaceShipOne program?
Many questions and only one opinion on this blog at least… “Keep up the incredible work your guys are doing at Scaled Composites – We need to continue to reach for the stars….”
My condolences go out to those involved in this tragedy. There are huge risks in spaceflight as we had seen in missions of the past, the shuttle disaster and many other related incidents but not once did we not all recover to be stronger and push even harder.
To all at Scaled Composites, Burt Rutan and the families of the victims, please understand you have a nation of people behind you in what you are doing.
Filed Under: General News • Science
