• published: 02 Nov 2014
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Virgin Galactic crash: Mojave investigation under way the crash site in the Mojave Desert, where the immediate priority is to find out what went wrong Will crash set back space tourism? 'This is catastrophic' - scientist Watch Virgin spacecraft crashes in test flight Watch US officials have started to investigate why a Virgin Galactic space rocket crashed over California's Mojave desert on a test flight. Virgin chief Sir Richard Branson said he was "determined to find out what went wrong" and learn from the tragedy. The co-pilot, named as Michael Alsbury, 39, died when SpaceShipTwo exploded shortly after take-off on Friday. Local police said Peter Siebold, the pilot who survived the crash, had suffered "moderate to major injuries". Scaled Composites, the company both pilots worked for, said Mr Siebold, 43, was "alert and talking with his family and doctors". A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) team arrived in Mojave on Saturday and began its investigation, which is expected to take weeks. Pilot Mike Alsbury Mike Alsbury - an employee of Scaled Composites, the firm behind SpaceShipTwo - was the pilot who died NTSB investigators arrive at Mojave Air and Space Port NTSB investigators flew in to the Mojave Air and Space Port before heading to the desert crash site Crash scene The on-site investigation into the crash in the Mojave desert is expected to last several days Speaking at the at the Mojave Air and Space Port, where the craft was being developed, Virgin Group founder Sir Richard said "nobody underestimates the risks involved in space travel". Virgin 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. "We owe it to our test pilots to find out what went wrong, and once we find out, if we can overcome it, we will make sure that the dream lives on," Sir Richard added. Sir Richard Branson: "It's a horrible day for Virgin Galactic, for commercial space travel, it's a massive setback" Peter Siebold, left, was piloting SpaceShipTwo alongside co-pilot Michael Alsbury, right Peter Siebold, left, survived the incident but his co-pilot, Michael Alsbury, died Michael Alsbury 39-year-old was married with two children Had 15 years of flying experience First flew in the SpaceShipTwo in 2010 Flew craft's first rocket-powered run in April 2013 Peter Siebold 43-year-old is married with two children Received his pilot's license when he was 16 Started working for Scaled Composites in 1996 Had spent 2,000 hours in 35 different fixed-wing aircraft line Sir Richard said Virgin Galactic and its partners had "been undertaking a comprehensive testing programme for many years and safety has always been our number one priority". A team of between 13 and 15 NTSB investigators - including specialists in structures, systems, engines and vehicle performance - arrived in Mojave on Saturday morning to begin on-site work later in the day, NTSB acting chairman Christopher Hart said. Their work would include detailed examination of all available data, work at the crash site and interviewing witnesses, Mr Hart said. "This was a test flight and test flights are typically very well documented in terms of data," he added. Wreckage from the crash is scattered across a large area of the Mojave Desert, north-east of Los Angeles. Police secured the site amid fears that some of the debris could be explosive. 'Serious anomaly' SpaceShipTwo was flying its first test flight for nine months when it crashed shortly after take-off near the town of Bakersfield. In a statement, the company said SpaceShipTwo had experienced "a serious anomaly" after the craft separated from its launcher, an aircraft called WhiteKnightTwo. WhiteKnightTwo landed safely. It later emerged that the space craft was burning a new type of of rocket fuel never before used in flight, although officials said it had undergone extensive ground testing. In a blog post on Friday, Sir Richard said everyone involved in the project was "deeply saddened". "All our thoughts are with the families of everyone affected by this tragic event," he wrote. Even as details emerge of what went wrong, 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. I interviewed Sir Richard Branson when he first announced the venture, and his enthusiasm and determination were undoubted.