The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has banned Richard Branson’s company from flying back into space until investigations into his maiden flight are complete.
Virgin Galactic has announced that it has obtained clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fly into space again.
Through its website, Richard Branson’s company noted that all FAA investigations have been completed about the mishaps that occurred on the first flight of Unity in July.
Virgin Galactic proposed solutions to the mishaps, such as precise calculations to expand the protected airspace for future flights and additional steps to notify Air Traffic Control of missions in real time.
With this settled, Virgin Galactic will be able to launch flights into space again, precisely at 80 kilometers of altitude.
What had happened?
“SpaceShipTwo deviated from its Air Traffic Control clearance when it returned to Spaceport America,” the regulatory body said of the ship’s descent after its successful maiden flight.
Given this, the company was suspended until the FAA can carry out the corresponding studies.
Virgin Galactic seats have risen in price from $ 200,000 to $ 450,000. The next mission, Unity 23, will carry research payloads and three members of the Italian Air Force.