The Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo rocket separates from the carrier aircraft before exploding in the air during a test flight on Friday, October 31. The explosion killed a pilot aboard and seriously injured another person while scattering wreckage in Southern California's Mojave Desert, witnesses and officials said.
Test space flight crashes —
The Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo rocket separates from the carrier aircraft before exploding in the air during a test flight on Friday, October 31. The explosion killed a pilot aboard and seriously injured another person while scattering wreckage in Southern California's Mojave Desert, witnesses and officials said.
Kenneth Brown/AP
The Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo rocket explodes in the air.
Test space flight crashes —
The Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo rocket explodes in the air.
Kenneth Brown/AP
Wreckage lies near the site where a Virgin Galactic space tourism rocket, SpaceShipTwo, exploded over Mojave, California.
Test space flight crashes —
Wreckage lies near the site where a Virgin Galactic space tourism rocket, SpaceShipTwo, exploded over Mojave, California.
Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP
Debris from the rocket is scattered on a road after the rocket exploded.
Test space flight crashes —
Debris from the rocket is scattered on a road after the rocket exploded.
Kenneth Brown/AP
Virgin Galactic wreckage.
Test space flight crashes —
Virgin Galactic wreckage.
Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP
Law enforcement officers gather near the site where SpaceShipTwo exploded and crashed.
Test space flight crashes —
Law enforcement officers gather near the site where SpaceShipTwo exploded and crashed.
Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP
"Space is hard, and today was a tough day. We are going to be supporting the investigation as we figure out what happened today, and we are going to get through it," Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides said.
Test space flight crashes —
"Space is hard, and today was a tough day. We are going to be supporting the investigation as we figure out what happened today, and we are going to get through it," Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides said.
Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP