Virgin Galactic spacecraft crash kills one

[joebloggs]

At least one person is dead and another injured after Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo space tourism craft crashed in the California desert.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-29857182

[KeithD]

Looks like one of the pilots died instantly. It is not unexpected, space flight has a high death rate. All you are doing is sitting at the end of a huge firework

I'd still go on it. They will discover the problem and fix it. We lost and Antares rocket this week. At least Virgin had a survivor, unlike the space shuttle disasters.

[joebloggs]

Well Justin Bieber has bought a ticket

[tiger31]

I think many pre-booked ticket holders will be asking for a refund. Sod that for a game of soldiers - risking one,s life with all that money in the bank, lol

[KeithD]

The people who have bought tickets know the risks, so I'm pretty sure they will still want to go.

[fred]

Apparently there are no ejector seats..

[KeithD]

Apparently there are no ejector seats..

That's because at 2500mph you would die instantly

[fred]

That's because at 2500mph you would die instantly

So how did the Pilot get out then?

[KeithD]

So how did the Pilot get out then?

The side door. They jump only when it is safe to do so.

Another reason they cannot have ejector seats is that there is no canopy to blow off, as the plane is the same size as a passenger Lear Jet. If they go wrong, the only way out is the side door.

[les_taxi]

What you do it the same as in an elevator plunging downwards. Just jump in the air before it hits the floor.