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Moment Virgin Galactic spaceship exploded at 45,000ft: One pilot dead and another critical as Richard Branson's $500m space tourism plane blows up testing new fuel over California desert




Space plane broke into pieces above Mojave Desert, California, on first flight using experimental rocket fuel
One pilot died in the crash, another parachuted out of falling plane but was seriously injured in the disaster
SpaceShipTwo plane had swapped rubber-based rocket fuel for a higher-performing plastic blend today
More than 700 people - including Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and Katy Perry - have paid $250,000 for tickets
Witnesses who rushed to falling debris reported seeing dead pilot strapped into his seat with body parts missing
Virgin founder Richard Branson has sunk $500million into space company, which launched in 2004
Branson had previously said his company 'can't lose anybody' and be successful space flight operator
31 October 2014
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2816224/Virgin-Galactic-SpaceShipTwo-exploded-45-000ft-One-pilot-dead-critical-Richard-Branson-s-500m-space-tourism-plane-blows-testing-new-fuel-California-desert.html [with embedded videos, and comments]