[BE911SC]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

The media are a bit rough on Virgin Galactic, I think it's mostly because they love to hate Richard Branson... Fair enough, but we tend to forget "test pilot" is the ultimate cowboy profession, there is an expectation of danger. We killed many developing prop planes, jet planes, supersonic planes.... and the space program did kill a few people too, did it not ?

On the one hand we cut funds to the pros at NASA, and farm this out to private endeavors, then we slap those guys on the wrist when something happens??? Really, didn't anyone see this coming (one week after antares blew up). Unless there was gross negligence on their part, which I doubt given the people involved, what are they to do ? They are pioneers of a new way of doing things, it'll never be risk free!

I hope they fix the problem and go on.... And I wish we'd give NASA all the money we're giving Irak and Afghanistan, among others...

Plus, if the military or NASA killed you there was a military pension and/or survivor benefits. When some private company kills you it's probably tough s h i t for your surviving family. Mr. Branson's attorneys are undoubtedly soothing the wife of the dead pilot as we speak. "There, there, PLEASE don't sue."