FAA Grounds Virgin Galactic After July Mission Investigation

Virgin Galactic Flights Grounded by FAA Investigation

Earlier today, a report concerning Virgin Galactic’s inaugural commercial flight, planned for September, was published. It appears that launch may be delayed.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced a grounding of all Virgin Galactic flights. This action is pending the completion of an investigation into the company’s July 11th crewed spaceflight.

FAA Statement on Flight Suspension

According to the FAA, Virgin Galactic will be prohibited from resuming flights with the SpaceShipTwo vehicle until formal approval is granted. This approval hinges on the final mishap investigation report, or a determination that the identified issues pose no risk to public safety.

While the July 11th mission concluded without any injuries to the crew or personnel – including founder Richard Branson – a recent discovery revealed a deviation from the approved flight path.

Details of the Trajectory Deviation

A red warning light illuminated on the spaceplane’s control panel during the flight, signaling that it had strayed outside of its designated airspace. The spaceplane remained off-course for a duration of 1 minute and 41 seconds, as stated by the FAA.

Initial reports detailing this deviation were published by The New Yorker.

The FAA further clarified its role, stating its responsibility to ensure public safety during all commercial space transportation operations. The agency is currently overseeing Virgin Galactic’s investigation into the July 11th incident that occurred above Spaceport America in New Mexico.

Impact on the September Commercial Flight

The planned September flight, intended to carry members of the Italian Air Force and the National Research Council, may be postponed. The mission’s purpose is to investigate the impact of microgravity on the human body.

Until the investigation is finalized and any necessary corrective actions are implemented, Richard Branson’s space tourism company will remain grounded.

Virgin Galactic’s Response

Update: A Virgin Galactic representative communicated to TechCrunch that the company is actively collaborating with the FAA to address the identified issue.

The complete statement from Virgin Galactic is as follows: