Virgin Galactic SpaceshipTwo explosion: New plastic-based fuel leads to space tourism disaster

One pilot was killed and another seriously injured when a space tourism plane exploded during a test flight near Mojave, California.

Virgin Galactic’s WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo took off from the Mojave Air and Space Port at 9:18 a.m. on Friday.

The WhiteKnightTwo carried the SpaceShipTwo to a height of 50,000 feet. The SpaceShipTwo then detached from the mothership at 10:10 and continued it’s assent with a plastic-based rocket fuel being used for the first time.

About 60-90 seconds after the rocket was ignited, there was an explosion that destroyed the aircraft in mid-air. One pilot ejected from the plane and parachuted to the ground surviving with serious injuries. The other pilot was killed. His body was found among the wreckage about 20 miles northeast of the city of Mojave.

In September, Richard Branson said he expected the first commercial flight would happen in the early part of 2015 but there’s no telling how long this crash will delay plans.

Among the clients who have signed up for the $250,000 trip to space are Leonardo DiCaprio, Ashton Kutcher, Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber.

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