Explosion at private spaceship firm site kills 2

[Praxius]

Explosion at private spaceship firm site kills 2

An explosion on Thursday killed two workers and critically injured four others at a Mojave Desert airport site used by the pioneering aerospace company that sent the first private manned rocket into space, authorities said. The blast at a Mojave Air and Space Port facility belonging to Scaled Composites LLC released nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, into the air. Hazardous material teams were on the scene as a precaution and fire authorities said the scene was safe. All the victims worked for Scaled, the Mojave-based builder of SpaceShipOne, the first private manned rocket to reach space. Aerospace designer Burt Rutan, who heads Scaled but was away, rushed back to Mojave. He appeared emotional, hugging the airport manager and fire chief. His voice trailed off at times as he spoke to reporters. No information about the victims was released because families were being notified. Rutan said the blast did not involve a rocket firing but happened during a test of the flow of nitrous oxide through an injector in the course of testing components for a new rocket motor for the upcoming SpaceShipTwo. The nitrous oxide was at room temperature and under pressure, Rutan said. Rutan gave little additional information about the test, but said it had been done safely many times during the SpaceShipOne program and had been done once before for the SpaceShipTwo program. "We were doing a test we believe was safe. We don't know why it exploded. We just don't know," he said. SpaceShipTwo is to be used for the new space tourism business Virgin Galactic belonging to Richard Branson. The company plans to offer $200,000 rides into space for tourists. Scaled's offices and aircraft construction facilities were closed late Thursday. Authorities did not allow access to the blast site in a remote unpaved area about a quarter-mile beyond an airplane storage area. Video news helicopters showed wrecked equipment and vehicles at the airport in the high desert north of Los Angeles near Edwards Air Force Base. Scaled uses nitrous oxide as an oxidizer in its rockets, which are tested at the airport. An oxidizer provides the oxygen that rocket fuel needs to burn. Scaled's website notes that "temperatures and pressures must be carefully controlled" during oxidizer transfers. Paramedics reported two people were killed, four were critically injured and one suffered minor injuries, said Mark Corum, a spokesman for Hall Ambulance Service. The injured were airlifted to Kern Medical Centre about 70 kilometres from the airport, he said. The Mojave airport is where the Rutan-designed Voyager aircraft was built. It made history in 1986 when it achieved the first non-stop flight around the world without refuelling. In 2004, Rutan's SpaceShipOne, funded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, made the first privately financed manned spaceflight by climbing more than 100 kilometres high on a suborbital journey above Mojave. SpaceShipOne went on to make two more flights to win the $10 million US Ansari X Prize. Rutan has since been developing SpaceShipTwo for Branson, who is investing at least $200 million US for a fleet of Rutan's spaceships. Earlier this year he told a trade show the new ship will be ready within a year and, after a year of flight tests, would have its first commercial launch in 2009.

Hmmm.... Sabotage perhaps?

NASA was just sabotaged..... I wonder....

[Sonart]

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More likely some rich, dilletente adventurers are discovering that pushing the envelope on space flight is, and always has been, extremely dangerous.


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[Osborn F Enready]

This is the unfortunate cost of being a pioneer, a technological leader, an inventor and a risk taking individual, for the promise of wealth, respect, popularity and bettering society through the reach and ability of technology.

If I believed in a God, I would thank him for individuals willing to take the risk to explore, pioneer and push the boundaries of knowledge and ability, but since I don't, I will thank those who gave their lives and those who risk them to better themselves, their loved ones, the world through the use of gained knowledge.

To the American independent spirit, Cheers!

[sdbest]

Quote by: Sonart More likely some rich, dilletente adventurers are discovering that pushing the envelope on space flight is, and always has been, extremely dangerous.

To make such an inappropriate, mean-spirited, ill-informed crack, you must know nothing about Burt Rutan or Scaled Composites.

Regards
S.

[Zeebadee]

I just canceled my reservation for the maiden flight of SpaceShipTwo.

[Sonart]

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Quote by: sdbest To make such an inappropriate, mean-spirited, ill-informed crack, you must know nothing about Burt Rutan or Scaled Composites.

And if you knew anything about me or my years on this and other boards, you'd know I'm quite familiar with Rutan and his visionary contributions to aviation. But even visionaries can get arrogant with their success, and I've always bridled at the assumption that all we needed was for free-marketeers to get into the space race and all would be solved.

Well, guess what! Rutan's toy for rich tourists is still as dangerous as NASA's.

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[Osborn F Enready]

Sonart, enjoy your cynicism.

There are many pitfalls on the way to greatness, and if there wasn't, everyone would be great.

[sdbest]

Quote by: Sonart But even visionaries can get arrogant with their success.

Accidents happen. Even to visionaries, even to NASA, even to people making dinner or having a bath--in fact, more frequently to people cooking and bathing. An accident, like that which happened to Rutan, is evidence of nothing beyond accidents happen.

As for you bridling "at the assumption that all we needed was for free-marketeers to get into the space race and all would be solved" one can only wonder what the state of passenger aviation would be if it weren't for "free-marketeers". Commercial aviation as you must know was funded in part in the early years by giving rides to the rich.

Regards
S.

[Osborn F Enready]

sdbest said: Accidents happen. Even to visionaries, even to NASA, even to people making dinner or having a bath--in fact, more frequently to people cooking and bathing. An accident, like that which happened to Rutan, is evidence of nothing beyond accidents happen. As for you bridling "at the assumption that all we needed was for free-marketeers to get into the space race and all would be solved" one can only wonder what the state of passenger aviation would be if it weren't for "free-marketeers". Commercial aviation as you must know was funded in part in the early years by giving rides to the rich.

Well said, and it couldn't have been more on point.

[Zeebadee]

Quote by: sdbest Commercial aviation as you must know was funded in part in the early years by giving rides to the rich.

I think you're simplifying things a bit here. Commercial aviation advanced and prospered because it filled the immediate needs of society, and had the technical means to support it. As we've been finding out since the moon landings in the 60's, aside from the odd gadget or process developed, there's simply no need for manned space travel right now. Can you name any of the current mission objectives of the International Space Station that private enterprise could afford to foot the bill for? Even settlements or exploitation of the resources on our nearest neighbor planets would be impossible to fill with the chemical rockets we have at the moment. We'll need better, more efficient propulsion systems before we can really look at practical, manned missions that do more than orbit the earth, something Rutan isn't even working on. What Rutan is developing is nothing more than an expensive, dangerous carnival ride for those that can afford it.

[Nono]

All of which doesn't, in and of itself, explain an explosion on the ground in Mojave. If it had happened at the Burger King down the highway, it wouldn't have made the papers.

Rutan is a very gifted, iconoclast aircraft designer. That doesn't mean that his project -- for a suborbital flight, something achieved by NASA 45 years ago -- isn't a toy for super-affluent adventurers like Richard Branston.

[Sonart]

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Quote by: sdbest As for you bridling "at the assumption that all we needed was for free-marketeers to get into the space race and all would be solved" one can only wonder what the state of passenger aviation would be if it weren't for "free-marketeers".

Or at what state American aviation would be at without such other visionaries as Jack Northrup, Kelly Johnson or Werner von Braun, who, alas, produced their visions on the government's dime. I daresay America's current lead in aviation technology sprang forth from U.S. government contracts.

Quote by: sdbest Commercial aviation as you must know was funded in part in the early years by giving rides to the rich.

But in even larger part by the U.S. government, in league with American corporatism. Anyone here recall that the airliners of the late 40's and 50's flew on wings designed for the B-29? You think the 707 would have happened if the military didn't also need jet powered refueling for their fighters and bombers?

NASA took us from the first sub-orbital Mercury launch to a moon landing in less than 10 years. Since the 2005 maiden flight of SpaceShipOne, Rutan should be taking wealthy tourists for sub-orbital joyrides in SpaceShip2 in, what, half that time? Wowie zowie. And then?

Don't get me wrong... I'm sorry for the tragic losses, and the truth is I've always been a big fan of Burt Rutan. But this near mystic belief that the free market is going to re-invent our space program is silly and this accident should point that out.

Too bad Libertarians don't put as much faith in American know-how, Yankee ingenuity and independent, entreprenueral spirit when it comes to solving really serious problems, like, say, Global Warming. Oh, that's right... Libertarians don't believe in man-made Global Warming, because to do so would mean telling some free-market capitalists they have to change their ways.

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[Nono]

Quote by: Sonart Anyone here recall that the airliners of the late 40's and 50's flew on wings designed for the B-29? You think the 707 would have happened if the military didn't also need jet powered refueling for their fighters and bombers?

Indeed I do, and the US government bailed out Boeing not so long ago by ordering 767s for exactly the same function.
Aviation News Magazine - Boeing’s 767 Tanker

Space flight, like any other huge and complex technical undertaking (the Tennessee Valley Authority, for instance), requires public investment allocated by a democratically elected entity.

[Osborn F Enready]

Sonart said: Too bad Libertarians don't put as much faith in American know-how, Yankee ingenuity and independent, entreprenueral spirit when it comes to solving really serious problems, like, say, Global Warming. Oh, that's right... Libertarians don't believe in man-made Global Warming, because to do so would mean telling some free-market capitalists they have to change their ways.

WOAH! Who are you talking about here?

I am not against change, nor am I against alternative fuels or solar and wind power. What Libertarians are you talking about?!?

I happen to be a proud supporter of hemp, for both its industrial uses (over 160,000) as well as the fact it is the BEST source for alternative fuel made from biomass. I have been advocating solar and wind power for individuals since learning about it.

Who are you to speak about Libertarians like that when you know nothing of their positions on the issue?

AS far as human causes of global warming, I don't believe that, but I see no reason to compound the issue with human uses when we don't have to. :rolleyes:

[The Decider]

Quote by: sdbest Accidents happen. Even to visionaries, even to NASA, even to people making dinner or having a bath--in fact, more frequently to people cooking and bathing. An accident, like that which happened to Rutan, is evidence of nothing beyond accidents happen.

Some accidents don't just "happen"--they get needed help from cost-cutting, incompetance, corruption or a combination or all three. Case in point: the Challenger disaster and the defective O-Rings. Engineers and other private contractors lost their jobs after the investigation. The astronauts lost their lives.

Before hailing Rutan as a noble victim of pioneer misfortune, let's wait for the investigation. What do you say?

[Sonart]

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What Libertarians are you talking about?!?

How about these Libertarians. Here's their platform on The Environment. Ridiculous!

Or this.

Or this, "Global warming: the Libertarian approach".

Or this.

Or this.

And of course, this...

Quote by: Osborn F Enready "AS far as human causes of global warming, I don't believe that, but I see no reason to compound the issue with human uses when we don't have to."

Odd that you don't believe humans are causing global warming, but you're in favor of alternative energy. Is an inability to achieve a complete state of Libertarian denial nagging at your conscience a bit?

Quote by: the Decider Before hailing Rutan as a noble victim of pioneer misfortune, let's wait for the investigation. What do you say?

On a board like this??? I'm afraid that's a bit too much rationality to ask of folks here, since rampant speculation, guilt by association, innuendo, rumor and wishful thinking are mother's milk around these parts.

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[Osborn F Enready]

Sonart said: How about these Libertarians. Here's their platform on The Environment. Ridiculous! Or this. Or this, "Global warming: the Libertarian approach". Or this. Or this.

I agree with just about everything said there. My view on alternative energy stems from energy independence, and the ability to increase individual savings in the U.S.

How is what was said ridiculous?

Sonart said: Odd that you don't believe humans are causing global warming, but you're in favor of alternative energy.

Libertarians are about maximizing independence. Part of being truly independent is being able to minimize ones reliance on others for survival and/or existence. It is plainly obvious why personal solar and wind energy is the answer to our energy reliance on foreign oil and fossil fuels, especially if the private market was allowed by law to invest in hemp for alternative fuel for vehicles, creating more jobs in the U.S., while reducing foreign dependence on oil, and again bringing more value to farming.

Sonart said: Is an inability to achieve a complete state of Libertarian denial nagging at your conscience a bit?

Not at all.

[Nono]

Now that this thread has been derailed onto the Endless Siding of Ideological Dispute, I have to say that Sonart's right. The Libertarian "position" on pollution is just another contrived soapbox. It completely ignores the issue in order to make the Same Old Point. Yes, pathetic. Remember Ronald Reagan? Didn't he say that the biggest offenders were trees? So why not Big Government?

This indicates to me that the Libertarian party isn't interested in the real world, just in harping on and on about its tired old simplistic pet ideological peeves.

And the solution to athlete's foot? Why, abolish government, naturally! What else?

[Sonart]

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Quote by: Osborn F Enready WOAH! Who are you talking about here?

Whaddaya mean, who am I talking about here? I said...

"Oh, that's right... Libertarians don't believe in man-made Global Warming, because to do so would mean telling some free-market capitalists they have to change their ways."

Every libertarian source I mentioned denied the substantially proven fact that man is causing global warming and you've just now stated that you agree with them 100%. So obviously I'm talking about you and your Libertarian ideologues.

Quote by: Zeebedee As we've been finding out since the moon landings in the 60's, aside from the odd gadget or process developed, there's simply no need for manned space travel right now.

Sadly... agreed. Pure science is a worthy goal, but unfortunately for the time being, pure science can best be achieved with unmanned missions.

Quote by: Zeebedee What Rutan is developing is nothing more than an expensive, dangerous carnival ride for those that can afford it.

There it is. Space tourism for profit.

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