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Siebold was the pilot, not co-pilot, on this flight.
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===SpaceShipTwo VSS Enterprise crash===
===SpaceShipTwo VSS Enterprise crash===
{{main|VSS Enterprise crash}}
{{main|VSS Enterprise crash}}
On 31 October 2014 Alsbury was test flying the [[Virgin Galactic]] [[SpaceShipTwo]], [[VSS Enterprise|VSS ''Enterprise'']] with [[Peter Siebold]]. Pilot error resulted in the craft breaking up in-flight and a total loss of VSS ''Enterprise'', which crashed in the California [[Mojave Desert]].<ref name=DailyMail-2014-10-31>{{cite news|url=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|title=Moment Virgin Galactic spaceship exploded at 45,000ft|journal=Daily Mail|first1=Mark|last1=Prigg|first2=Chris|last2=Spargo|first3=Lydia|last3=Warren|first4=Kieran|last4=Corcoran|date=31 October 2014|accessdate=5 November 2014}}</ref> Alsbury was unable to exit the spacecraft, and his remains were found still strapped to his seat in the fuselage. The Co-Pilot, Peter Siebold survived.<ref name=LAT-2014-11-01/><ref name=DailyMail-2014-11-01/> It was the ninth time that Alsbury had flown aboard the aircraft.<ref>{{cite news|title=Branson determined to find cause of Virgin spaceship crash, pilots identified|url=http://newsdaily.com/2014/11/virgin-galactic-spaceship-crashes-during-california-test-flight/|date=2 November 2014|first1=Daina Beth|last1=Solomon|first2=Irene|last2=Klotz|work=[[Reuters]]|publisher=[[Science Daily]]|accessdate=5 November 2014}}</ref>
On 31 October 2014 Alsbury was test flying the [[Virgin Galactic]] [[SpaceShipTwo]], [[VSS Enterprise|VSS ''Enterprise'']] with [[Peter Siebold]]. Pilot error resulted in the craft breaking up in-flight and a total loss of VSS ''Enterprise'', which crashed in the California [[Mojave Desert]].<ref name=DailyMail-2014-10-31>{{cite news|url=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|title=Moment Virgin Galactic spaceship exploded at 45,000ft|journal=Daily Mail|first1=Mark|last1=Prigg|first2=Chris|last2=Spargo|first3=Lydia|last3=Warren|first4=Kieran|last4=Corcoran|date=31 October 2014|accessdate=5 November 2014}}</ref> Alsbury was unable to exit the spacecraft, and his remains were found still strapped to his seat in the fuselage. The pilot, Peter Siebold survived.<ref name=LAT-2014-11-01/><ref name=DailyMail-2014-11-01/> It was the ninth time that Alsbury had flown aboard the aircraft.<ref>{{cite news|title=Branson determined to find cause of Virgin spaceship crash, pilots identified|url=http://newsdaily.com/2014/11/virgin-galactic-spaceship-crashes-during-california-test-flight/|date=2 November 2014|first1=Daina Beth|last1=Solomon|first2=Irene|last2=Klotz|work=[[Reuters]]|publisher=[[Science Daily]]|accessdate=5 November 2014}}</ref>


On 4 November 2014, Episode 5 of [[BBC One]]'s ''[[Human Universe]]'', presented by [[Brian Cox (physicist)|Brian Cox]], was dedicated to Alsbury, as it had a sequence on Virgin Galactic test pilot [[David Mackay (pilot)|David Mackay]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0276q61|title=BBC Two - Human Universe, What is our Future?|year=2014|publisher=[[BBC]]|accessdate=5 November 2014}}</ref>
On 4 November 2014, Episode 5 of [[BBC One]]'s ''[[Human Universe]]'', presented by [[Brian Cox (physicist)|Brian Cox]], was dedicated to Alsbury, as it had a sequence on Virgin Galactic test pilot [[David Mackay (pilot)|David Mackay]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0276q61|title=BBC Two - Human Universe, What is our Future?|year=2014|publisher=[[BBC]]|accessdate=5 November 2014}}</ref>

Revision as of 20:50, 5 June 2017

Michael Tyner Alsbury
Born1975
StatusDeceased
DiedOctober 31, 2014(2014-10-31) (aged 38–39)
Mojave Desert near Cantil, California
NationalityAmerican
OccupationTest Pilot
Space career
Commercial Astronaut
MissionsNone

Michael Tyner Alsbury (1975 – 31 October 2014) was an American test pilot for Scaled Composites. He was killed on 31 October 2014 during test flight PF04 of the Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo VSS Enterprise.[1][2]

Personal life

Alsbury had been a flying enthusiast since childhood.[3] He graduated from California Polytechnic State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering.[2][3] Alsbury was married to Michelle Saling for 12 years and had two children, aged 7 and 10 at the time of his death.[2][4]

Career

Alsbury joined Scaled Composites in 2001 and began working as a project engineer and pilot.[2]

In April 2013, he served as copilot to Mark Stucky on the first powered flight for VSS Enterprise and SpaceShipTwo.[2]

In 2013, he received the Ray E. Tenhoff Award for the most outstanding technical paper at the Society of Experimental Test Pilots symposium along with Mark Stucky and Clint Nichols.[2]

At the time of his death, he had 1800 flight hours, 1600 of them as a test pilot and engineer with Scaled Composites.[2] In 2013, he was the co-recipient of the Ray E. Tenhoff Award from the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.[2]

SpaceShipTwo VSS Enterprise crash

Main article: VSS Enterprise crash

On 31 October 2014 Alsbury was test flying the Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo, VSS Enterprise with Peter Siebold. Pilot error resulted in the craft breaking up in-flight and a total loss of VSS Enterprise, which crashed in the California Mojave Desert.[5] Alsbury was unable to exit the spacecraft, and his remains were found still strapped to his seat in the fuselage. The pilot, Peter Siebold survived.[2][4] It was the ninth time that Alsbury had flown aboard the aircraft.[6]

On 4 November 2014, Episode 5 of BBC One's Human Universe, presented by Brian Cox, was dedicated to Alsbury, as it had a sequence on Virgin Galactic test pilot David Mackay.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Press Release - 3:00pm, November 1, 2014" (PDF). Scaled Composites. 1 November 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Petersen, Melody; Vives, Ruben; Hennigan, W.J. (1 November 2014). "Virgin Galactic craft probably broke up in midair, NTSB chief says". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  3. ^ a b Williamson, Marcus (6 November 2014). "Michael Alsbury: Experienced and respected pilot who died during a test flight for Richard Branson's 'SpaceShipTwo' vessel". The Independent. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  4. ^ a b Spargo, Chris; Parry, Ryan; Robertson, James; Corcoran, Kieran (1 November 2014). "'I have lost the love of my life'". Daily Mail. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  5. ^ Prigg, Mark; Spargo, Chris; Warren, Lydia; Corcoran, Kieran (31 October 2014). "Moment Virgin Galactic spaceship exploded at 45,000ft". Daily Mail. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  6. ^ Solomon, Daina Beth; Klotz, Irene (2 November 2014). "Branson determined to find cause of Virgin spaceship crash, pilots identified". Reuters. Science Daily. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  7. ^ "BBC Two - Human Universe, What is our Future?". BBC. 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
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