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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Virgin Galactic crash: SpaceShipTwo probe 'may take year' | Virgin Galactic crash: SpaceShipTwo probe 'may take year' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The investigation into the Virgin Galactic spacecraft crash in California's Mojave Desert could take about a year, the head of the US transport safety agency has said. | The investigation into the Virgin Galactic spacecraft crash in California's Mojave Desert could take about a year, the head of the US transport safety agency has said. |
| Christopher Hart said Virgin Galactic would be able conduct further test flights while the investigation took place. | Christopher Hart said Virgin Galactic would be able conduct further test flights while the investigation took place. |
| SpaceShipTwo broke up in mid-air during a test flight on Friday. | SpaceShipTwo broke up in mid-air during a test flight on Friday. |
| One of the pilots was killed and the other injured. | One of the pilots was killed and the other injured. |
| Virgin chief Sir Richard Branson says he is "determined to find out what went wrong" and learn from the tragedy. | Virgin chief Sir Richard Branson says he is "determined to find out what went wrong" and learn from the tragedy. |
| The US National Transportation Safety Board team had completed its first full day of investigation, Mr Hart said, and would be examining evidence at the scene for four to seven days. | The US National Transportation Safety Board team had completed its first full day of investigation, Mr Hart said, and would be examining evidence at the scene for four to seven days. |
| He said the craft's debris was spread over an area measuring five miles from end to end. | He said the craft's debris was spread over an area measuring five miles from end to end. |
| He told a news conference the test flight had been "heavily documented" and his team would have to trawl through "extensive data" - which was why the full investigation could take "about 12 months or so". | He told a news conference the test flight had been "heavily documented" and his team would have to trawl through "extensive data" - which was why the full investigation could take "about 12 months or so". |
| However, he added than any discoveries of issues that required "immediate attention" would be communicated to Virgin Galactic. | However, he added than any discoveries of issues that required "immediate attention" would be communicated to Virgin Galactic. |
| The co-pilot who died when SpaceShipTwo disintegrated shortly after take-off was named as 39-year-old Michael Alsbury. The pilot was identified as Peter Siebold. | The co-pilot who died when SpaceShipTwo disintegrated shortly after take-off was named as 39-year-old Michael Alsbury. The pilot was identified as Peter Siebold. |
| Scaled Composites, the company both pilots worked for, said Mr Siebold, 43, was "alert and talking with his family and doctors". | Scaled Composites, the company both pilots worked for, said Mr Siebold, 43, was "alert and talking with his family and doctors". |
| Mr Hart said his team were waiting for doctors to allow them to interview Mr Siebold. | Mr Hart said his team were waiting for doctors to allow them to interview Mr Siebold. |
| 'A massive setback' | 'A massive setback' |
| Speaking earlier at the at the Mojave Air and Space Port, where the craft was being developed, Sir Richard said "nobody underestimates the risks involved in space travel". | Speaking earlier at the at the Mojave Air and Space Port, where the craft was being developed, Sir Richard said "nobody underestimates the risks involved in space travel". |
| Virgin Galactic had hoped to launch commercially in 2015. It has already taken more than 700 flight bookings at $250,000 (£156,000) each, with Sir Richard pledging to travel on the first flight. | Virgin Galactic had hoped to launch commercially in 2015. It has already taken more than 700 flight bookings at $250,000 (£156,000) each, with Sir Richard pledging to travel on the first flight. |
| "It's a horrible day for Virgin Galactic and for commercial space travel. It's a massive setback," Sir Richard told the BBC. | "It's a horrible day for Virgin Galactic and for commercial space travel. It's a massive setback," Sir Richard told the BBC. |
| He said the company had to pick itself up, find out what went wrong and see whether they can fix it. "I'm hopeful we'll be able to overcome the problems," he added. | He said the company had to pick itself up, find out what went wrong and see whether they can fix it. "I'm hopeful we'll be able to overcome the problems," he added. |
| The pilots | The pilots |
| Michael Alsbury | Michael Alsbury |
| Peter Siebold | Peter Siebold |
| Investigations will be hoping to find some indication of what went wrong from the many sources of visual information on the incident. | Investigations will be hoping to find some indication of what went wrong from the many sources of visual information on the incident. |
| Mr Hart said there were six cameras on the craft itself, with another three on its launcher, an aircraft called WhiteKnightTwo. However, he added that it was unclear whether SpaceShipTwo's cameras had been found. | |
| The spacecraft was flying its first test flight for nine months when it crashed near the town of Bakersfield. | The spacecraft was flying its first test flight for nine months when it crashed near the town of Bakersfield. |
| Virgin Galactic said SpaceShipTwo had experienced "a serious anomaly" after it separated from WhiteKnightTwo. | Virgin Galactic said SpaceShipTwo had experienced "a serious anomaly" after it separated from WhiteKnightTwo. |
| The space craft was using a new type of rocket fuel never before used in flight, although officials said it had undergone extensive ground testing. | The space craft was using a new type of rocket fuel never before used in flight, although officials said it had undergone extensive ground testing. |
| David Shukman, BBC science editor | David Shukman, BBC science editor |
| This is clearly a massive setback to a company hoping to pioneer a new industry of space tourism. Confidence is everything and this will not encourage the long list of celebrity and millionaire customers waiting for their first flight. | |
| An innovative design combined with a new type of rocket motor make the development exceptionally hard. Despite an endless series of delays to its spacecraft, Virgin Galactic has over the years managed to maintain some very optimistic public relations and positive media coverage. | An innovative design combined with a new type of rocket motor make the development exceptionally hard. Despite an endless series of delays to its spacecraft, Virgin Galactic has over the years managed to maintain some very optimistic public relations and positive media coverage. |
| I interviewed Sir Richard Branson when he first announced the venture, and his enthusiasm and determination were undoubted. But his most recent promises of launching the first passenger trip by the end of this year had already started to look unrealistic some months ago. | I interviewed Sir Richard Branson when he first announced the venture, and his enthusiasm and determination were undoubted. But his most recent promises of launching the first passenger trip by the end of this year had already started to look unrealistic some months ago. |
| This accident will delay plans even further. Space is never easy, and making it routine is even harder. | This accident will delay plans even further. Space is never easy, and making it routine is even harder. |
| Will crash set back space tourism? | Will crash set back space tourism? |