Dead in Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo crash

Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo spaceplane crashed Friday during a test flight in the US state of California. At least one crew member was killed, according to local media. Another is known to be seriously injured.

The accident happened during a test flight in the Mojave Desert. The SpaceShipTwo would test the rocket for the first time in nine months, but the device crashed shortly after it came loose from its mothership, the WhiteKnightTwo, for unknown reasons.

As far as is known, there were two test pilots in the Virgin Galactic spaceplane. One of them died in the accident, reports NBC News, among others. The other was seriously injured. His condition is not known and it is not clear whether he will make it. Virgin Galactic has not yet confirmed this.

Virgin Galactic has been experimenting with the SpaceShipTwo for some time now. At the beginning of this year, during a test flight, the aircraft reached an altitude of 21.5 kilometers and a speed of Mach 1.4. In time, Virgin wanted to offer commercial ‘space flights’ with the aircraft. It is unclear what the consequences of the accident will be for the company’s plans.

Image: Twitter/BBC