How will last week's tragic Virgin Galactic crash affect the company's goals? Also, Mayor Garcetti is considering adding more diagonal crosswalks throughout the city. Then, take a crash course in election information before tomorrow's big day.
Virgin Galactic founder says space innovation worth the risk of fatal test crashes
Federal investigators say Virgin Galactic's experimental rocket ship broke apart in flight after a device to slow the space plane's descent deployed too soon.
The cause of Friday's crash of SpaceShipTwo over California's Mojave Desert has not been determined, but investigators found the "feathering" system - which rotates the twin tail "feathers" to create drag - was activated before the craft reached the appropriate speed, National Transportation Safety Board Acting Chairman Christopher Hart said.
The system requires a two-step process to deploy. The co-pilot unlocked the system, but Hart said the second step occurred "without being commanded."
"What we know is that after it was unlocked, the feathers moved into the deploy position, and two seconds later, we saw disintegration," Hart said.
The finding moves away from initial speculation that an explosion brought down the craft.
The investigation is months from being completed, and officials are looking at factors that include pilot error, mechanical failure, design problems and whether pressure existed to continue testing, Hart said.
"We are not edging toward anything. We're not ruling anything out," he said. "We are looking at all these issues to determine the root cause of this accident."
The co-pilot, Michael Alsbury, 39, was killed in the crash. Pilot Peter Siebold, 43, parachuted to the ground and is hospitalized with injuries.
Speaking on NBC's Today Show Richard Branson said if the initial findings are the cause of the crash, then it could be an easy fix with a return to test flights within four to six months. Branson said normalizing space travel is "absolutely worth the risk" because of myriad benefits it could have for humankind.
The crash is reminder of the risks entailed in spaceflight innovation. Knowing that, how will this accident affect Virgin Galactic’s goals? What is the reaction of investors who are eager to use their prepaid tickets? How are other companies faring in the business of suborbital commercial flight?
With files from the Associated Press.
Guest:
Douglas Messier, Managing Editor, ParabolicArc.com - a journalism outlet focused on private space enterprise in Mojave, California; Messier witnessed Friday’s crash
Doug Griffith, Aviation and Spaceflight Attorney; Griffith has a degree in aerospace engineering and two decades as a military and civilian pilot
Los Angeles ponders diagonal crosswalks. What are the arguments for and against?
You may have been to an intersection or two in Los Angeles where there are crosswalks built diagonally, so as to allow pedestrians to cross from one corner of an intersection to the other. Could we be seeing more crosswalks like this popping up across the city?
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is looking at an initiative that would install these diagonal crosswalks, also known as pedestrian scrambles or “Barnes dances,” because of traffic engineer Henry Barnes, who advocated the use of pedestrian scrambles 70 years ago in Denver. The crosswalks would stop traffic in all directions, allowing pedestrians to cross to any side of the intersection. Studies show that these crosswalks are safer for pedestrians, but they can also be a headache for motorists, who have to wait longer at red lights than they would at an intersection with normal crosswalks. Supporters say that pedestrian scrambles would not only make it safer for people walking in L.A. to cross the street but also increase the walkability of the city. Opponents say
At this point there are no plans to move forward with the initiative and it has not been proposed in front of the L.A. City Council.
How do you think pedestrian scrambles would change the pedestrian landscape in Los Angeles? Would you be more likely to walk to a destination if it were easier to cross the street in certain locations?
Guest:
Jim Moore, Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering and Civil Engineering, Director of USC Transportation Engineering Program
To hear this segment, click on "Listen Now" above.
Debating Prop 48
Should Indian tribes be allowed to build casinos on non-reservation land? One tribe will have that opportunity if Proposition 48 passes.
Prop 48 would ratify compacts that the California legislature approved back in 2005 between the state and two tribes, respectively: The North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians and the Wiyot Tribe. If passed, Prop 48 would allow the North Fork tribe to build a casino on about 305 acres of land in Madera County. The compact with the Wiyot tribe doesn't allow them to build a casino, but does allow them to get a portion of the revenue that the North Fork tribe's casino generates.
Supporters say voting yes on Prop 48 would create thousands of jobs, stimulate the local economy, and promote self-sufficiency within the tribes all without a cost to taxpayers. Opponents say passing Prop 48 would open the floodgates for other tribes to build casinos on non-reservation land, which they say will have a negative effect on the surrounding communities.
So what do you think? Should tribes like the North Fork and Wiyot be allowed to build and profit from casinos even if they're built on non-reservation land? How do you think the casinos will help or hurt the surrounding communities?
Guests:
Charlie Altekruse, Public Affairs Director for the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians
Andrew Acosta, Campaign Spokesman for No on 48
Procrastinators, listen up! This is the final ballot rundown
We know that sample ballot has been waiting for you in your car or on your desk for weeks and you’ve had the best intentions of getting to the bottom of Props 45 and 47, and buffing up on the arguments for and again the water bond, but the clock is running out. Now that we’re in the eleventh hour, here’s your last chance to get your questions asked and run through the ballot before election day.
Think you know a thing or two about the 2014 midterm elections? Take AirTalk's quiz to find out!
Guests:
Frank Stoltze, KPCC Politics reporter
Patt Morrison, KPCC contributor and LA Times columnist
Listeners remember Tom Magliozzi of 'Car Talk,' dead at 77
Tom Magliozzi, one of the hosts of NPR's "Car Talk," passed away Monday at the age of 77 due to complications of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Tom and his brother, Ray, hosted the show nationally on NPR since 1987. Known as “Click and Clack the Tappet Brothers,” the brothers helped callers on a weekly basis with their car troubles, but not before cracking jokes and creating hilarious radio. Tom’s laughter was infectious, and his knowledge was expert.
This weekend, Ray will go live to tell listeners about the tragedy, as well as to do a special episode where they cover some of Tom’s best segments. The Magliozzi family has asked that instead of flowers, friends and listeners make donations to their favorite public radio station.
Guest:
Doug Berman, longtime producer of "Car Talk" and "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!"