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Explosion at Scaled Composites Kills 2, Injures 4

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the burning-up dept.

Animats writes "Details are scant at this time, but a explosion at the Scaled Composites rocket test facility has killed two people and seriously injured four more. The Los Angeles Times reports that the explosion was 'ignited by a tank of nitrous oxide.' This is Burt Rutan's facility, and the home of SpaceShip One and Virgin Galactic spacecraft development."

6 of 239 comments (clear)

  1. Not surprised... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    This is what you would expect when the private sector tries its hand at space travel -- deaths due to carelessness. That's why space colonization is properly a government function.

  2. NASA Cutbacks Due To Bush's Push To Mars by NeverVotedBush · · Score: -1, Troll

    Lots of articles on this. Seems that the cut budgets ebing realigned for Mars manned flight is causing big cutbacks in other areas. Not like this led to astronauts in diapers, drinking before launch, or sabotage, but it does just hurt the whole NASA organization and probably does make the sensational crap more possible.

    Those people are under a lot of stress and now, with more public and government attention, they will be even more so. The attention won't make NASA safer either. With more scrutiny frequently come more screw-ups. I don't envy the people at NASA one bit. I do feel sorry for them though.

    Too bad we don't have an administration with honest priorities.

  3. "Pull out of space flight"? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll
    The U.S. occupation of space is not worth the price in human lives.

    While corporations are profiting from space travel, our brave young men and women are dying unnecessarily.

  4. Re:Whats with Explosions this week? by doombringerltx · · Score: 0, Troll

    Snarls traffic is right. Hearts go out to the families, blah blah blah, but 635 was an abortion on the way home that day. When people start having industrial disasters, then need to think ahead of how they will effect *me*

  5. There goes the private-sector space program... by patiwat · · Score: -1, Troll

    There goes the startup private-sector space program.

    From now on, NASA's going to say that only they can manage space-related projects, because the private start-ups are a bunch of clowns that sacrifice safety for cost.

    And the public is going to buy it, and few will take the risk of flying on a startup launcher.

  6. Re:First and foremost by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Exactly. We feel really sincerely sorry. Now, where is the YouTube link? We want to see blood, gore and guts, just like in dozens of Iraq videos. We also feel sorry for those, don't we? Couple hundred thousand civilian victims so far, thanks to USA. And still counting. How many more brave young men have to die in the Mojave Desert before Bu$h gives up this ill advised crusade??

    USA out of outer space now! Bring the astronauts home!!!