The space tourism company that suffered a tragic setback when its experimental rocket-powered spaceship broke apart over the California desert could resume test flights as early as next summer if it can finish building a replacement craft.

An investigation into the fatal Virgin Galactic spaceship crash has found the function to help it descend was deployed early.

Investigators looking into what caused the crash of a Virgin Galactic prototype spacecraft that killed one of two test pilots said a five-mile path of debris across the California desert indicates the aircraft broke up in flight.

Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson said he is determined to find out what went wrong during a test flight of his prototype space tourism rocket after one pilot died and another was injured in an accident.

A winged spaceship designed to take tourists on excursions beyond Earth’s atmosphere exploded during a test flight over the Mojave Desert, killing a pilot.

One pilot died and another was seriously injured after a rocket belonging to billionaire Richard Branson’s space tourism venture crashed during a test flight, US authorities said.

One pilot has died and another has suffered “major injury” after Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo crashed during a test flight, Californian authorities said.

Land Rover has begun production of the new Discovery Sport, which replaces the much-loved Freelander with a new seven-seat platform.

Land Rover has begun production of the new Discovery Sport, which replaces the much-loved Freelander with a new seven-seat platform.

Cheering crowds, hundreds of handshakes, and plenty of pats on the back. It’s not every day you win the world’s top science competition, but these three Cork girls almost make it look easy.

One lucky citizen of the oil-rich United Arab Emirates (UAE) could soon get the chance to be rocketed into space.

The world’s wealthiest people may start using suborbital space travel — pioneered by investors such as Richard Branson — to cut travel times and expand their property empires, according to Knight Frank.

Businessman Richard Branson has reiterated his claim that the first Virgin Galactic flight into space will take place later this year.

Fowl play creeps out cemetery owner

Virgin Galactic says it has successfully conducted a second rocket-powered, supersonic test flight of the passenger spaceship it is developing.

Actress Kate Winslet’s husband won a High Court fight in England today to stop a tabloid newspaper printing photographs taken at a private fancy dress party with an “outrageous” theme.

Kate Winslet's new husband has given her a trip to space as a wedding gift.

Forget the socks and smelly candles, Jonathan deBurca Butler picks some weird and wacky gifts to spice up your Christmas stockings

Irish businessman and author Bill Cullen joined Richard Branson yesterday as the Virgin boss announced plans for the Virgin Galactic space tourism programme.

With typical flair, Richard Branson today announced that he and his children will be the first passengers when the Virgin Galactic space tourism programme begins.

Richard Branson said his venture to launch paying tourists into space has netted its 500th customer, and it is none other than Ashton Kutcher.

Virgin boss Richard Branson has said his venture to launch paying tourists into space has netted its 500th customer, and it is none other than Ashton Kutcher.

Alesha Dixon added some leggy red carpet glamour as she joined the 'Britain’s Got Talent' panel today – and admitted she was going to be “gobby”.

Simon Cowell has revealed plans to offer the winner of this year’s 'Britain’s Got Talent' the chance to perform in space.

WITH his usual flair, British billionaire Richard Branson rappelled from a balcony, shook up a big bottle of champagne and took a swig while christening the world’s first commercial spaceport.

An unmanned spacecraft bankrolled by Amazon.com supremo Jeff Bezos failed during a test flight, it has emerged.

HAVE you ever dreamed of being an astronaut? Well, if you have some “prior spaceflight experience” and US citizenship, Richard Branson may just offer you a job.

THE Apprentice’s Bill Cullen has reasserted his claim to be the first Irishman in orbit after comments from another Irish businessman suggested he could be beaten to the spacecraft door.

The dream of whisking tourists to space for a few minutes of weightlessness edged closer to reality when the runway at the world's first commercial spaceport officially opened.

Virgin Galactic’s space tourism jet has suffered a landing gear problem during a test flight in California’s Mojave Desert.

The Virgin team aiming to send tourists on suborbital flights has tested its spacecraft with a crew for the first time, it announced today.

A SPACECRAFT designed to rocket wealthy tourists into space as early as 2011 was unveiled yesterday in what backers of the venture hope will signal a new era in aviation history.

The world’s first commercial passenger spaceship, funded by Virgin boss Richard Branson, will be unveiled today.

A Florida avionics company successfully fired a low-altitude rocket at a new spaceport in New Mexico where the state hopes to launch commercial space tourism flights within two years.

Construction is starting on a multi-million-dollar spaceport in a US desert that is meant to launch private citizens into space.

A US state is preparing to begin construction of the world’s first commercial spaceport, built to launch private citizens into space.

Richard Branson today confirmed a partnership agreement with Brawn GP.

THE world’s next space tourist has said he’s spending the bulk of his fortune on his $30 million (€19.2m) adventure this autumn.

TYCOON Richard Branson unveiled his newest spaceship and said that test flights for the vessel would begin this year.

British billionaire Richard Branson hailed the “year of the spaceship” as he unveiled the designs of two crafts which could help take the first tourists into space.

A huge explosion killed two workers and critically injured four others at a Mojave Desert airport site used by a pioneering aerospace company linked to Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic space tourism business.

Virgin empire boss Richard Branson is in negotiations with British television networks to launch a talent show for aspiring astronauts.

British entrepreneur Richard Branson has unveiled an interior mock-up of the suborbital spaceship that his company will use to take paying passengers on flights into space.

Former Dallas star Victoria Principal has been given the all clear to jet off into space on Virgin's first rocket mission after beating a blood disorder.