It's About Liberty: A Conservative Forum

Topics => Science, Technology, & Medicine => Topic started by: Libertas on November 01, 2014, 11:38:44 AM

Title: Tough knock for private spaceflight - Virgin's Space Ship 2 explodes, 1 dead
Post by: Libertas on November 01, 2014, 11:38:44 AM
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-virgin-galactics-spaceship-anomaly-testing-20141031-story.html#page=1 (http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-virgin-galactics-spaceship-anomaly-testing-20141031-story.html#page=1)

Bummer, hope they determine the exact cause, I would really like to see private space exploration succeed and eventual civilian settlement of the cosmos to become a reality some day...
Title: Re: Tough knock for private spaceflight - Virgin's Space Ship 2 explodes, 1 dead
Post by: Glock32 on November 01, 2014, 12:47:22 PM
RIP to the pilot who died.  I understand the other pilot is very seriously wounded as well.  Major advancements are borne on the backs of people who made sacrifices like this.

I want to see private space exploration continue.  Despite what the liberals will say, you could argue that private space flight has already been proven.  The Apollo program that put men on the moon used technology designed by IBM, Honeywell, McDonnell/Douglas, Grumman, and so on.  The reason it worked as a government program is because it was mostly military personnel who ran it like a military operation.
Title: Re: Tough knock for private spaceflight - Virgin's Space Ship 2 explodes, 1 dead
Post by: AlanS on November 01, 2014, 01:54:15 PM
The reason it worked as a government program is because it was mostly military personnel who ran it like a military operation.

True, but it's odd hearing the military as an efficient program.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the pilots families.
Title: Re: Tough knock for private spaceflight - Virgin's Space Ship 2 explodes, 1 dead
Post by: Libertas on November 02, 2014, 10:02:59 AM
No great enterprise ever just "got there" without pain, sacrifice and expense....and anything flight related let alone spaceflight related can cause bodily harm.  The early years of flight, the advent of jet power and chasing the sound barrier and on into space was frought with fatal disasters. 

Hope the injured fella pulls through, both are heroic people paving the way to the stars.
Title: Re: Tough knock for private spaceflight - Virgin's Space Ship 2 explodes, 1 dead
Post by: Libertas on November 06, 2014, 11:51:42 AM
Siebold, the pilot who survived, released from hospital this past Monday.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-virgin-survivor-20141105-story.html#page=1 (http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-virgin-survivor-20141105-story.html#page=1)