Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support


A key function called "feathering," which changes the aerodynamics of 

the Virgin Galactic spacecraft that crashed

 into the Mojave Desert last week, was engaged too early, investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board said on Monday.


The function is supposed to be deployed when SpaceShipTwo reached a speed of 1.4 times the speed of sound. Instead, it was deployed when the spacecraft reached Mach 1.

Investigators said they had found the aircraft's fuel tanks, oxidizer tanks and engine on Sunday.

Hart said those parts were intact and showed no sign of an explosion.

"The engine burn was normal up until the extension of the feathers," Hart said.

, George Whitesides, the head of Virgin Galactic, said a new spacecraft could be ready to fly next year.


As we've told you, this crash is a potentially serious setback for commercial space tourism.


The spacecraft's goal is to fly briefly into space for tourist trips, costing $250,000 apiece. More than 700 people have already put down deposits.  Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Disasters

The head of Virgin Galactic said a new spacecraft could be ready to fly next year.

Key function deployed early before SpaceShipTwo's crash

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox