It looks like Virgin Galactic ’s lieu in the billionaire blank race has procrastinate and it will not be flying again any time soon . The US Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA ) has ground space flight of steps by Virgin Galactic while it investigate the company’smuch - hype July jauntto the bound of space . The vehicle carry Richard Branson deviate from its planned flight to go slightly off course on its comeback to Spaceport America in New Mexico .
“ The FAA is overseeing the Virgin Galactic investigation of its July 11 SpaceShipTwo mischance that occurred over Spaceport America , New Mexico , ” the agency said in a shortstatement . “ Virgin Galactic may not return the SpaceShipTwo fomite to flight until the FAA approves the final mishap investigating write up or find out the issues associate to the mishap do not affect public safety . ”
The FAA decision comes after reputation that a instant into the garden rocket trip carry the Virgin CEO , a yellowish admonition visible light came on , suggesting that the spaceship was not in the right trajectory for come back to the Earth in its depute airspace , reports Nicholas Schmidl for theNew Yorker . When the light turned red , the foxiness either had to go under contiguous corrective activeness or the whole commission was go to be aborted .
The buffer chose the first selection . That day the Unity 22 spacecraft soared to an elevation of 85 kilometers ( 52 miles ) , just short of the Kármán lineage , the internationally recognized edge of space set at an arbitrary 100 kilometre ( 62 miles ) of altitude . By examine to correct their trajectory , the squad go beyond their grant air space , thus prompting the FAA investigation .
“ Although the flight ’s ultimate flight deviated from our initial plan , it was a curb and intentional flight path that set aside Unity 22 to successfully strive outer space and farming safely at our Spaceport in New Mexico . At no time were passengers and gang put in any peril as a result of this change in trajectory , and at no clock time did the ship travel above any population centre or cause a chance to the public , ” a society voice toldTechCrunch .
The troupe ’s first commercial flight of steps was expected to take place betweenlate September and early October . It is presently unknown if the investigation will be complete ahead of this or if the flying will have to be postponed . However , should you thirst the next saga in the billionaire quad race , SpaceX’sfirst all - civilian place missionis currently scheduled for September 15 , so grab the popcorn and meet us back here then .
