Michael Alsbury – Spaceflight Now

November 21, 2025

Breaking News

[ November 20, 2025 ] Falcon 9 Starlink mission marks 100th launch of the year from Florida’s Space Coast Falcon 9
[ November 18, 2025 ] SpaceX resumes early evening launches after FAA restrictions lifted News
[ November 17, 2025 ] SpaceX launches joint NASA-European sea level monitor Falcon 9
[ November 17, 2025 ] SpaceX Falcon 9 to launch international satellite to keep watch on rising sea levels Falcon 9
[ November 14, 2025 ] SpaceX completes second fastest turnaround between Falcon 9 launches from Cape Canaveral Falcon 9

SpaceShipTwo mishap due to pilot error and company training oversight

July 28, 2015 William Harwood

The fatal in-flight breakup of Virgin Galactic’s futuristic SpaceShipTwo rocket plane during a test flight last October was the result of pilot error, possibly triggered by a high workload, unfamiliar vibration and rapid acceleration, the National Transportation Safety Board concluded Tuesday.

2014’s top stories in spaceflight

December 30, 2014 Spaceflight Now

The year ended with a deluge of big news, reminding us of the risks of spaceflight and the thin margins between success and failure on the final frontier. 2014 was also a year of breakthroughs in the exploration of the solar system and the future of human spaceflight.