Debris from the SpaceShipTwo accident Friday in Mojave that killed one pilot and injured another stretches across five miles, complicating the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation into the crash, NTSB Acting Chairman Christopher Hart said during a media briefing Saturday night.
"We have our work cut out for us," Hart said at the Witt Event Center in Mojave, adding that the agency's in-field investigation may take four to seven days, but the entire operation may be complete in 12 months.
A slew of NTSB investigators descended on Mojave earlier in the day to survey the accident site and speak to Virgin Galactic personnel. The explosion midday Friday killed, Michael Alsbury, 39, and injured his co-pilot, Peter Siebold, 43.
Virgin Galactic pilot Todd Ericson shares information at #SpaceShipTwo accident site w/ Hart and investigators. pic.twitter.com/LPpoYeKbZF— NTSB (@NTSB) November 2, 2014
Both Alsbury and Siebold were veterans of Scaled Composite's spaceship test program. Scaled Composite built SpaceShipTwo for Virgin Galactic.
Virgin Galactic can continue its space program's operations while the NTSB investigates the SpaceShip Two crash, but if investigators have recommendations for the company, they will report the necessary changes immediately, rather than waiting to complete their work. Virgin Galactic has already sold spaceflight tickets to 700 people, including celebrities such as Katy Perry and Justin Bieber.
The wide span of debris, which stretches northeast to southwest, indicates an "in-flight separation," Hart said, but officials don't know yet what caused it.
NTSB investigators began collecting parts from the craft with the help of the FBI in an effort to "return the community to normal" as quickly as possible, Hart said. Officials had found the fuselage and three fuel tanks, but not the engine, he added.
Acting Chairman Hart w/ Virgin Galactic pilot Todd Ericson & investigators at #SpaceShipTwo accident site. pic.twitter.com/hkOCJC5qlK— NTSB (@NTSB) November 2, 2014
Officials plan to interview anyone who can help with the investigation, but the surviving pilot, Siebold, has yet to be interviewed due to his health condition.
Siebold reportedly injured his shoulder during the crash and was set to undergo surgery Saturday afternoon, according to the Kern County Sheriff's Office, USA Today reported.
Siebold was found with his deployed parachute, but it's unclear how he exited the crash. Alsbury's parachute was not deployed and he was found inside the craft. Alsbury is survived by his wife and two children
"The doctors do not recommend we do an interview at this stage," Hart said, adding that officials don't want to interview Siebold until he's ready.
NTSB investigator Scott Warren documenting one section of the #SpaceShipTwo accident site. pic.twitter.com/X5vQNWXdfM— NTSB (@NTSB) November 2, 2014
There were six cameras on board SpaceShipTwo, but Hart said he did not know if all had been recovered.
Hart: 6 cameras on #SpaceShipTwo, a range camera at Edwards AF Base, video from chase aircraft and over 1000 parameters of telemetry data.— NTSB (@NTSB) November 2, 2014
During a press conference in Mojave early Saturday, Richard Branson, owner of Virgin Galactic, vowed to find out what caused the accident, which occurred when SpaceFlightTwo reported an "in-flight anomaly" around an hour after takeoff. The spacecraft exploded, breaking up into pieces in the desert.
Branson added that his company plans to learn from the tragic incident and push forward in the realm of space travel.