SpaceShipTwo's Rocket Engine Did Not Cause Fatal Crash

astroengine writes It wasn't SpaceShipTwo's hybrid rocket motor — which was flying on Friday with a new type of fuel — that caused the fatal crash, the head of the accident investigation agency said late Sunday. The ship's fuel tanks and its engine were recovered intact, indicating there was no explosion. "They showed no signs of burn-through, no signs of being breached," Christopher Hart, acting chairman of the National Transportation and Safety Board, told reporters at the Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, Calif. Instead, data and video relayed from the ship show its hallmark safety feature — a foldable tail section designed for easy re-entry into the atmosphere from space — was deployed early, causing the in-flight break-up.

Comments

Re:Then how did the pilot die?

[angel'o'sphere]

Actually it is well known from the recovered tapes and the recorded talks of the crew of Columbia, that all survived the accident until the crew cabin crash landed.
If 'who ever' had not scratched the 'crew rescue system' for cost reasons, no one had died that day.