Authorities allow Virgin Galactic to resume launches after mishap probe

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has closed its mishap investigation into the July 11 Virgin Galactic Unity 22 launch

The Virgin Galactic aircraft had deviated from its assigned airspace on its descent

The FAA stated that Virgin Galactic had implemented changes that the agency had required upon how it communicates during flight.

The authority then confirmed that the Richard Branson backed company will be allowed to resume operations.

The FAA investigation:

The government investigation found the Virgin Galactic spacecraft had deviated from its assigned airspace upon its descent from space and the company failed to communicate the deviation to the FAA as required.

Virgin Galactic confirmed earlier this month it was planning another SpaceShipTwo flight from New Mexico, Unity 23, pending technical checks and weather. That flight is to carry three crew from the Italian Air Force and National Research Council, it added.

Virgin Galactic confirmed the FAA had accepted the corrective actions it proposed

The space company include updated calculations to expand the protected airspace for future flights and additional steps in the company’s flight procedures to ensure real-time mission notifications to FAA Air Traffic Control.

“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,” said Virgin Galactic Chief Executive Michael Colglazier.

Richard Branson was among six Virgin Galactic employees who took part in the July 2021 space mission, soaring more than 80 km above the New Mexico desert.