Space Explored

FAA grounds Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo after Unity 22 flight mishap

By Seth Kurkowski

September 2, 2021

During July’s Unity 22 spaceflight of Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson, The New Yorker reports that the pilots deviated off their approved course. In the report, they state the FAA has begun an investigation; Virgin Galactic replies.

Image: Virgin Galactic

An F.A.A. spokesperson confirmed that Virgin Galactic “deviated from its Air Traffic Control clearance” and that an “investigation is ongoing,” Nicholas Schmidle reported.

Image: Virgin Galactic

Flying out of designated airspace could mean big trouble for Virgin Galactic if the FAA wants to punish the company for the mistake. Virgin Galactic responded Thursday to The New Yorker’s claims.

Image: Virgin Galactic

Although the flight’s ultimate trajectory deviated from our initial plan, it was a controlled and intentional flight path that allowed Unity 22 to successfully reach space and land safely, said Virgin Galactic

Image: Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic did admit to flying outside the protected airspace for about 1 minute and 41 seconds out of the roughly 15 minute total flight time.

Image: Virgin Galactic

In a statement Thursday the FAA announced that Virgin Galactic cannot return to flying SpaceShipTwo until they have determined the cause of Unity 22’s mishap.

Image: Virgin Galactic

This most likely means we will see a slip in Virgin Galactic’s Unity 23 mission which was planned for later this month if the FAA doesn't give them the "OK" to begin flights again.

Image: Virgin Galactic