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The private spaceflight firm Scaled Composites has formed a support fund to aid the victims and families of those affected by an explosion last week at the firm's California desert-based facility. Three Scaled Composites workers were killed, and three others injured, in a July 26 explosion at the firm's facility at the Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California during an oxidizer system test for the company's suborbital SpaceShipTwo passenger spacecraft. "The outpouring of support form around the world has been incredible, and we can't thank you enough for all the support you have given us," Scaled Composites officials...

Excerpt - BAKERSFIELD - A series of explosions ripped through the Mojave Airport shortly before 3 p.m. First reports indicated there were a large fire, two deaths, and several other serious injuries. The explosion apparently happened on the edge of the grounds of the huge airport, where many experimental airplanes, jets, and even rocket planes are tested. One spokesman said a rocket exploded. Emergency equipment is being rushed to the area from throughout the county. Helicopter ambulances are being sent from Bakersfield. ~ snip ~

To All NSS Members and Friends: As many of you have heard, there was a serious accident last week at Scaled Composites, Burt Rutan's pioneering company. Three lives were lost, including Charles 'Glen' May, an NSS member who was a leader within NSS's Huntsville HAL5 Chapter. In addition, three employees suffered serious injuries. Scaled has announced information on a fund for those wishing to support the families of the deceased as well as the injured and their families. The National Space Society urges all of its members to give generously to support these heroes. Please send contributions to Scaled Family...

Day-to-day operations resumed at Mojave Air and Space Port on Friday as state officials arrived to begin their investigation of the explosion that killed three Scaled Composites employees and seriously injured three others. Eric Blackwell, 38, of Randsburg; Charles May, 45, of Mojave; and Todd Ivens, 33, of Tehachapi were killed Thursday during what was described as routine cold-testing of a nitrous oxide propellent system for the company's latest spacecraft, SpaceShipTwo. The names of those hospitalized were not released. "We are doing our best to take care of the families of the deceased as well as the injured and their...

The company that flew the first privately funded manned rocket into space has been cited in connection with an explosion last summer that killed three workers, the state said today. California occupational safety inspectors said in a report that Scaled Composites LLC failed to properly train workers about the dangers of nitrous oxide that was used during a test in July. The state levied three citations against Scaled, including two that were considered "serious," and fined the spaceship builder $25,870. The company has 15 days to pay or appeal. Three workers died and three were seriously injured in the explosion...

This grieving has been a difficult time for many of us. Glen was the first propulsion technician we brought out to support SpaceShipOne because Glen had “The Right Stuff!” Glen considered himself a soldier on a mission, and he did whatever it took to get the mission accomplished. Glen accepted the risks that come with this line of work. Glen was a commonsense-oriented guy, and he performed many missions with impeccable valor. Glen May’s contributions to SpaceShipOne are seldom told. Glen was humble about his Scaled accomplishments. As a good soldier, Glen did not reveal program details. Most of what...