The FAA grounds SpaceShipTwo, Virgin Galactic’s space plane
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) suspended the license of SpaceShipTwo, Virgin Galactic’s spacecraft. The FAA confirmed Wednesday that it was investigating «a descent deviation» following the July 11 flight.
The suspension will last until the agency «approves its final report» on the investigation into an anomaly suffered during its July flight, in which Virgin’s owner Richard Branson soared into space along with three passengers – and two pilots – on the craft. The resumption will only occur if it is determined that the problems «do not affect public safety,» as Reuters reports.
The FAA said «SpaceShipTwo deviated from its authorized trajectory while returning to Spaceport America,» Virgin Galactic’s base in New Mexico. «It will not be able to fly again until the FAA approves the final investigation report,» the agency added.
«We are investigating the causes of the problem and determining how to prevent this from occurring on future missions,» Virgin Galactic said in response. «The deviation on the flight was controlled and intentional. At no time were passengers or crew in danger,» the company added. Virgin had acknowledged earlier that «the flight descended below the planned altitude, for a short distance and time (1 minute and 41 seconds).»
Virgin Galactic was planning another SpaceShipTwo flight from New Mexico, with a possible flight date in late September or early October.
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