Monday, November 3, 2014

VIRGIN GALACTIC SAFETY DEVICE 'DEPLOYED EARLY'

A Virgin Galactic spacecraft that crashed on Friday deployed a safety device too early, according to US investigators.

A 'feathering' device, supposed to slow the craft on re-entry, was enabled by a pilot, but activated too soon.

Virgin Galactic has rejected claims safety has not been its top priority.

The company aimed to send the first tourists into space in 2015, but this had already been delayed before the accident.

One of the two pilots died in Friday's crash.

Space scientist Dr David Whitehouse says the feathering device is now the centre of attention.

IN: "What the….
OUT: ...the cause."
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Space scientist Dr David Whitehouse says the crash underlines the challenges of space.

IN: "This fatality….
OUT: ...good day."
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Space scientist Dr David Whitehouse says Virgin Galactic customers who've booked flights at $250 000 each, will now have even more questions.

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OUT: ...many years."
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