Tiny pieces of the Virgin Galactic experimental spaceship that broke up in flight have been found 35 miles from the main wreckage area, it emerged.

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.