Virgin Galactic Grounded Pending FAA Investigation

Virgin Galactic has been grounded while the FAA investigates the company's July 11th crewed spaceflight, after it was revealed that SpaceShipTwo Unity deviated from its approved flight path during the flight.

"Virgin Galactic may not return the SpaceShipTwo vehicle to flight until the FAA approves the final mishap investigation report or determines the issues related to the mishap do not affect public safety.”

FAA Statement

An FAA spokesperson said Thursday that Virgin Galactic "may not return the SpaceShipTwo vehicle to flight until the FAA approves the final mishap investigation report or determines the issues related to the mishap do not affect public safety,” according to MSN.

The probe was prompted by an incident during Unity's return to Spaceport America. The FAA says that Unity "deviated from its Air Traffic Control clearance as it returned to Spaceport America. The FAA investigation is ongoing."

Virgin Galactic acknowledged that the deviation occurred in a statement posted to the company website. "Although the flight’s ultimate trajectory deviated from our initial plan, the Unity 22 flight did not fly outside of the lateral confines of the protected airspace. As a result of the trajectory adjustment, the flight did drop below the altitude of the airspace that is protected for Virgin Galactic missions for a short distance and time (1 minute and 41 seconds) before re-entering restricted airspace that is protected all the way to the ground for Virgin Galactic missions," the company said. "At no time did the ship travel above any population centers or cause a hazard to the public. FAA representatives were present in the control room during the flight and in post-flight debriefs. We are working in partnership with the FAA to address the airspace for future flights."

Virgin Galactic said that a change in winds aloft forced the pilots to make the deviation.

It is not clear how long the FAA will keep Virgin Galactic grounded, but the company seems prepared to continue with its launch schedule. On Tuesday, the company announced the manifest for the next rocket-powered test flight of SpaceShipTwo Unity from Spaceport America, which will be the first commercial, human-tended research mission for the Company.

The “Unity 23” mission will be the 23rd flight for VSS Unity and will carry three paying crew members from the Italian Air Force and the National Research Council. The goal of the mission is to evaluate and measure the effects of the transitional phase from gravity to microgravity on the human body. Other payloads on board will study the effect of the microgravity environment on a range of chemical and physical properties. By testing and evaluating physiological and technological responses in sub-orbital flight, the mission aims to produce insights relevant to current and future spaceflight systems and technologies.

The company said it is targeting a flight window in late September or early October 2021, pending technical checks and weather.

(Sources: Virgin Galactic and as cited. Image from file)