SpaceShipTwo Wreckage

Michael Tyner Alsbury was born on March 19, 1975, in Santa Clara to Linda and Rich Alsbury. He spent his formative years in Scotts Valley graduated as the valedictorian from Soquel High School in 1993. Following his passion for aeronautics, Mike pursued a degree in Aeronautical Engineering at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Throughout his life, Mike's fascination with airplanes and flying had deep roots, beginning in his early childhood. His dedication to aviation led him to acquire his pilot's license at the age of 23 and achieve numerous other pilot ratings. In 1998, right after college, Mike embarked on his engineering career at Scaled Composites. His brilliance and professionalism quickly earned him the respect and admiration of his colleagues. In 2001, Alsbury joined Scaled Composites, where he assumed roles as both a project engineer and a pilot. Notably, in April 2013, he served as the copilot alongside Mark Stucky during the momentous first powered flight for VSS Enterprise and SpaceShipTwo. Tragically, on October 31, 2014, while test flying the Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo, VSS Enterprise, with Peter Siebold, the spacecraft suffered a catastrophic failure mid-flight, resulting in a total loss of the VSS Enterprise, which crashed in the California Mojave Desert. Despite his bravery, Mike was unable to exit the spacecraft, and his remains were found still strapped to his seat in the fuselage. Beyond aviation, Mike had a diverse set of interests. He enjoyed fly fishing and was an ardent supporter of the San Francisco Giants. Nature held a special place in his heart, and he loved activities such as hiking, camping, backpacking, and mountain biking. Additionally, he cherished family adventures and traveling together. Michael Alsbury will be remembered not only for his remarkable contributions to aeronautical engineering but also for his adventurous spirit, love for family, and dedication to the pursuit of his dreams.