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July 29, 2015

NTSB: Lack Of Consideration For Human Factors Led To SpaceShipTwo Breakup

Board Determined That Scaled Composites Did Not Plan For Possibility That Feather System Might Be Unlocked Early

In its official media release, the National Transportation Safety Board went into more detail about its findings and determination of the cause of the Oct. 31, 2014 in-flight breakup of SpaceShipTwo. The board said that Scaled Composites failed to consider and protect against human error and the co-pilot’s premature unlocking of the spaceship’s feather system as a result of time pressure and vibration and loads that he had not recently experienced.

Neil Armstrong’s Spacesuit Chosen for Inaugural Crowdfunding Project

Even the Smithsonian is jumping on the Crowdfunding bandwagon ... and with some pretty spectacular success. The Institution has embarked on a multi-project partnership with Kickstarter, the funding platform for creative projects. The inaugural project supports conservation of Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 spacesuit at the National Air and Space Museum. The funds also will be used to digitize and exhibit the 46-year-old suit.