What i hate is that Richard branson has no sympathy for the pilot who lost his life. He still says that he will work to achieve his dream. Puny idiot
I kind of got the same vibe when I read the first article, but what else could be expected? How many companies decide to just stop all progress at the first death? Coal & textile companies don't shut down when tens or hundreds die, and electronics companies don't even shut down when their employees are committing suicides every other week - they build nets around the building to catch them when they jump. -For much less bold dreams than Branson's, too.
Anyway, according to the NTSB report, it looks like there's a fair possibility the co-pilot caused the explosion through misuse, not anything wrong by design.
I agree with this sentiment, but I would like to see Branson show more empathy. I don't know what his main motivation is for building this program (money, prestige, corporate empire?) but opening space up to more people is an optimistic endeavor, for our society as a whole. It's dangerous and risky, but acknowledging that and showing sympathy for the inevitable losses diminishes nothing. You just don't want to see the guy driving this get up there and say: 'well, this is risky and the loss of life is the cost of doing great things.' That is a very alienating attitude.
It's likely Branson's direct fault that proper rocket motor testing was skipped in order to keep the project on some schedule.
There is nothing complicated about this. Dozens of fixed test stand tests, better 100+, before using that motor.
That's fatality #4 for this group.
It's "likely"? Is there a source for this yet, or is it just speculation? I'd wait until an official report is published before attempting to assign blame anywhere.
I see your point. "Likely" is not a totally fact based approach and may not be proper.
However, the 3 that have been killed in engine testing to date were directly attributable to safety protocol not being followed.
That seems like a rather large liability problem for Branson and his company.
It is what it is. You may have the wrong point of view.
Rockets, on the ground or in flight, are inherently dangerous. We have sufficient experience to know what the failure rates will be for engines and systems with experience data.
....for those that took a trip on the Space Shuttle,
STS-107 7 crewmembers died
STS-51 7 crewmembers died
833 total flew on the shuttle
1.6% of dying if you took a flight on the shuttle....
