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September 5, 2008 11:50:45 AM CDT

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Mojave Spaceport Blast Kills 2

Posted Jul 26, 07 10:24 PM CDT in US,  Science & Health 

(Newser) – An explosion killed at least two people at a remote desert plant attempting to develop billionaire Richard Branson's space tourism program. The blast at Mojave Air and Space Port was in part of the facility where SpaceShipTwo is being built for Virgin Galactic—to be used for $200,000 trips into Space.

Paramedics reported four people were critically injured the blast and one suffered minor injuries. They were airlifted to a hospital about 45 minutes away. Video news helicopters flying over scene showed a mass of burned vehicles and equipment.

Source Associated Press

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Aerospace designer Burt Rutan talks during a news conference near the site of an explosion that killed two people and critically injured four others,Thursday, July 26, 2007, at Mojave Air and Space Port...   (Associated Press)
A hazardous materials response team gathers before driving out to an explosion that killed two people and critically injured four others,Thursday, July 26, 2007, at Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave,...   (Associated Press)
Emergency vehicles line up near the site of an explosion that killed two people and critically injured four others,Thursday, July 26, 2007, at Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, Calif. The blast at...   (Associated Press)
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Richard Branson  • explosion  • space travel  • Virgin Galactic  • space tourism  • SpaceShipTwo  • Mojave Air and Space Port


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