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Virgin Galactic rocket plane explodes; 1 pilot dead, 1 injured

WASHINGTON, Nov 1 (KUNA) -- The Virgin Galactic 'SpaceShipTwo' rocket plane exploded and crashed during a test flight in Southern California on Friday, killing one test pilot and seriously injuring another, authorities said.
The explosion occurred after the plane separated from its 'WhiteKnightTwo' carrier airplane and fired its hybrid rocket engine, said Stuart Witt, general manager of the Mojave Air and Space Port. The blast scattered debris across a two-mile area of desert north of Mojave, which is about 95 miles from Los Angeles.
The surviving test pilot parachuted to the ground, then transferred to Antelope Valley Hospital in Lancaster, a deputy sheriff said.
Virgin Galactic conducted "extensive ground testing of all parts of the spaceship," said Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group.
"We have always known that the road to space is extremely difficult, and that every new transportation system has to deal with bad days early in their history," Branson said in a statement. (end) rm.gta