The explosion of Virgin Galactic SpaceShip Two has drawn the attention of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is now investigating the deadly accident. One pilot was killed and another injured in the latest setback for the private space program.
National Transportation Safety Board investigators arrived at the crash site on November 1, beginning a federal investigation into the crash.
Richard Branson, founder of SpaceShip Two developer Virgin Galactic, is also taking a first-hand look at the damage, after traveling to Mojave Air and Space Port, where the craft was developed.
SpaceShip Two was carried by the White Knight aircraft to an altitude of 45,000 feet. After release, engines aboard the spacecraft fired, and the vehicle exploded in a fireball soon after.
"Space is hard and today was a tough day. We are going to be supporting the investigation as we figure out what happened today. We're going to get through it. The future rests in many ways on hard days like this, but we believe we owe it to the team, that has been working so hard on this endeavor, to understand this and to move forward. And that is what we'll do," George Whitesides, CEO of Virgin Galactic, said.
Officials from the NTSB will be scouring a wide swath of land 20 miles from the airfield, where debris is strewn about.
"Senior Investigator Lorenda Ward is leading the team as investigator-in-charge. Acting Chairman Christopher A. Hart is accompanying the team and will serve as the principal spokesman during the on-scene phase of the investigation," NTSB officials reported in a statement announcing the investigation.
The National Transportation Safety Board was established in 1967, charged with investigating civil transportation accidents. The independent federal agency also assists in the aftermath of military and foreign accident investigations when asked. To date, the NTSB has investigated 132,000 aviation accidents, as well as thousands of accidents on the ground. They have no authority to enforce regulations, but their recommendations are often followed by changes in transportation regulations and practices.
"This will be the first time we have been in the lead of a space launch (accident) that involved persons onboard," NTSB acting chairman Christopher A. Hart, told reporters at a press conference. The organization did not participate in investigations of the Challenger or Columbia space shuttle accidents.
Although best known for their work following airline crashes, the organization also manages marine, highway, railroad, and pipeline safety around the nation.
The NTSB has issued roughly 13,000 safety recommendations since its inception. These included mid-air collision avoidance technology aboard aircraft, as well as smart airbag technology in motor vehicles, and improved passenger exits on trains.