Virgin Galactic Crash: Pilots’ Actions Analysed
Eight seconds after that (10:07:29), the vehicle was travelling just under the speed of sound (Mach 0.94). Two further seconds into the flight (10:07:31), it was travelling at Mach 1.02.
It is in that period between Mach 0.94 and Mach 1.02 that Michael Alsbury is seen on recovered cockpit video moving a lever to unlock the feathering system - an action that in the pilots’ checklist was not called for until the vehicle had reached Mach 1.4.
Investigators have previously described how the feathering system then deployed, apparently “uncommanded” by the pilots. It is probable that aerodynamic forces deployed the mechanism, resulting in the break-up of the ship. This is timed at 10:07:34 - the moment video and telemetry was lost.