Space exploration furthers development in technology

HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) - Another major blow to private space flight Friday after Virgin Galatic's SpaceShip Two Tourism Rocket exploded over a Southern California desert. One pilot died, the other sustained a major injury.

Friday's crash follows the one earlier this week where an Antares rocket exploded in Wallops, Virginia. That unmanned rocket blew up seconds after liftoff. It was headed to the international space station to deliver more than 5,000 pounds of cargo.

When it comes to traveling in and to space, we still haven't learned everything yet according to former NASA administrator, Mike Griffin.

"Space flight is in its infancy, were still learning how to do it." said Griffin.

He's saddened, but not surprised about the Antares Rocket and Virgin Galatic accidents.

"These are the kinds of things that will occur as human beings seek to develop a capability to go where one has gone before." said Griffin.

Private companies are trying to retrace the government's steps for their commercial space ventures, according to Griffin.

"We should not be surprised that it is a difficult and challenging problem." said Griffin.

Griffin reminds us that airplane travel is incredibly safe.

"You have a greater chance of dying by being struck by lightning than dying on a US air-transport aircraft." said Griffin.

The beginning stages of aviation flying weren't so easy though he said.

"They were very risky and early years of pioneering human commercial spaceflight will be very risky as well." said Griffin.

NASA cancelled its space shuttle program and the private sector picked up some of the slack.

Griffin said whether its public or private, no one is cutting corners on quality control.

"Nobody who is involved with flying any type of vehicle has any tendency to want to cut corners." said Griffin. "People want to operate as intelligently and as efficiently as possible because the consequences of mistakes are so great."

There will continue to be growing pains associated with breaking barriers in space travel.

"And so, no matter how careful people try to be we are still going to have accidents in space flight with both cargo and people," said Griffin.

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