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1 Nov 2014

Is the space tourism dream over after fatal Virgin crash?

The future of Richard Branson’s space flight venture, Virgin Galactic, is in doubt after the death of a pilot during a test flight.

Entrepreneur Richard Branson will meet with his space team in California’s Mojave Desert after the crash of his SpaceShipTwo aircraft during its first powered flight since January.

Mr Branson has pledged to continue his Virgin Galactic space flight project, despite the crash of a test flight on Friday which killed one of its pilots and left the other seriously injured.

We’re going to get through it CEO of Virgin Galactic

The aircraft broke up into two large pieces and wreckage was strewn across a debris field more than a mile wide.

The body of one of the pilots, identified as Michael Alsbury, was found in the wreckage,. The other pilot ejected and parachuted to the ground but suffered serious injuries.

Both were test pilots for Scaled Composites, part of Northrop Grumman, which designed and built the spacecraft.

Three other employees had lost their lives in July 2007 in a ground test accident.

‘Today was a tough day’

A statement from Mr Branson’s company said: “All of us at Virgin Galactic are deeply saddened by today’s events. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of all those affected by this accident.”

George Whitesides, chief executive officer of Virgin Galactic, added: “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.”

'Space is hard, but worth it' - Branson defiant after crash

The crash took place just after the craft separated from the jet airplane that carried it towards its high-altitude launch.

The spacecraft was the first to use a new fuel formula that had been “proven and tested on the ground” before Friday’s test launch, said Kevin Mickey, president of Scaled Composites.

More than 800 people have full price or deposits to fly aboard the spacecraft, including actors Angelina Jolie and Ashton Kutcher and pop singer Lady Gaga.

Professor Andrew Coates, Department of Space and Climate Physics at University College London