Space flight still on says Branson... and I'm taking the family

Richard Branson, Virgin Galactic, Virgin Galactic crash, Virgin Galactic problems, Richard Branson backs Virgin Galactic,
        DEFIANT: Branson says he'll take his whole family on flight [GETTY/REX]
The tycoon slammed reports that the crash that killed pilot Michael Alsbury, 39, last week would end the project.
And he rubbished reports that SpaceShipTwo, right, blew up in mid-air, revealing its fuel tanks and rocket hit the ground intact.
“We will not start taking people until we have finished a whole massive series of test flights and until myself and my family have gone up”
Richard Branson
Sir Richard, 64, also dismissed claims pilot Peter Siebold, 43, survived by ejecting from the craft, saying the spaceship did not have ejector seats.
The tycoon raged: “We have spent many years building a spacecraft, mothershift and spaceport that can do the job safely
“We will not start taking people until we have finished a whole massive series of test flights and until myself and my family have gone up, and until we can safely say to people, ‘We’re ready to go.’”
Yesterday it was claimed pilot error may have caused the disaster.
Experts think a device to slow the rocket for landing may have been used too early, causing it to break apart.
Princess Beatrice, 26, who is dating Virgin Galactic worker Dave Clark, is reported to have has dropped plans to board a Virgin Galactic flight


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