Unity 22 Inquiry Concluded, Virgin Galactic Cleared to Fly

The FAA has concluded its Unity 22 inquiry and has cleared Virgin Galactic to return to FAA-licensed spaceflights, the company has announced. The inquiry focused on air traffic control clearance and real-time mission notification related to the Unity 22 flight in July.

"We appreciate the FAA’s thorough review of this inquiry. Our test flight program is specifically designed to continually improve our processes and procedures."

Michael Colglazier, Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Galactic.

The FAA has advised Virgin Galactic that the corrective actions proposed by the Company have been accepted and conclude the FAA inquiry, which began August 11, 2021. They include:

Updated calculations to expand the protected airspace for future flights. Designating a larger area will ensure that Virgin Galactic has ample protected airspace for a variety of possible flight trajectories during spaceflight missions.
Additional steps into the Company’s flight procedures to ensure real-time mission notifications to FAA Air Traffic Control.

"Our entire approach to spaceflight is guided by a fundamental commitment to safety at every level, including our spaceflight system and our test flight program," said Michael Colglazier, Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Galactic. "We appreciate the FAA’s thorough review of this inquiry. Our test flight program is specifically designed to continually improve our processes and procedures. The updates to our airspace and real-time mission notification protocols will strengthen our preparations as we move closer to the commercial launch of our spaceflight experience.”

Virgin Galactic continues to focus on its pre-flight readiness for Unity 23. During preparation for the Unity 23 test flight, a third-party supplier recently flagged a potential manufacturing defect in a component of the flight control actuation system that they supply to Virgin Galactic. At this point, it is not yet known whether the defect is present in the Company’s vehicles and what, if any, repair work may be needed. Out of an abundance of caution, and in line with Virgin Galactic’s established safety procedures, the Company is in the process of conducting inspections in partnership with the vendor.

This issue was unrelated to the Unity 22 flight.

As a result, and pending resolution of the FAA matter, the earliest the Company expects to open its flight window for Unity 23 is mid October. A further update and specific flight window will be shared once the inspection is complete, in coordination with the Italian Air Force.

(Image provided with Virgin Galactic news release)