Virgin Galactic spacecraft crashes with a test pilot killed.

Unfortunately, more sad news this week, this time all the more sadder with a death and another in hospital.

No doubt this disaster will take a toll on the Virgin Galactic team as it did on Burt Rutan in 2007.

Looks like another engine failure for this week, this time with a solid rocket that apparently exploded. They have already tested powered flights 3 times and unpowered - gliding flights over 20 times.
I've always liked liquid engines more with their increased capabilities including throttling and manual engine stop, which is obviously a plus for safety.

With SpaceX making things look so easy (including soft-landings on the ocean) with their in-house manufactured and tested Falcon 9 (and Merlin engines), these recent events have reminded us all of how dangerous the frontier of space can be, especially with rocket engines being in a whole different class compared to conventional combustion engines or even turbojet engines you'd get in airplanes.

BBC has more coverage. (with eye witnesses)

and so does Space.com (warning, Space.com's 2nd video has slightly graphic description of the aftermath).