FAA Clears Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo For Flight After Probe Into July Incident

Virgin Galactic is cleared to resume flights of its SpaceShipTwo space plane, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said Wednesday, after capping a safety investigation into issues that came up during the company's July flight carrying its founder Richard Branson. During that mission, SpaceShipTwo strayed from its designated airspace on its descent from space, and Virgin Galactic didn't tell the FAA about it when it was supposed to. The Verge reports: With the investigation now closed, the FAA required Virgin Galactic to make changes "on how it communicates to the FAA during flight operations to keep the public safe," it said in a statement. Virgin Galactic said that includes "updated calculations to expand the protected airspace for future flights" and "additional steps into the Company's flight procedures to ensure real-time mission notifications to FAA Air Traffic Control." Another change: "Updated calculations to expand the protected airspace for future flights," the company said. "We appreciate the FAA's thorough review of this inquiry. Our test flight program is specifically designed to continually improve our processes and procedures," Virgin Galactic CEO Michael Colglazier said in a statement. "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."

Translation

[Rosco P. Coltrane]

With the investigation now closed, the FAA required Virgin Galactic to make changes "on how it communicates to the FAA during flight operations to keep the public safe,"

In other words: "Here's your slap on the wrist. Thank you for your payment."

Nothing interesting here [Re:Translation]

[XXongo]

With the investigation now closed, the FAA required Virgin Galactic to make changes "on how it communicates to the FAA during flight operations to keep the public safe,"

I have to say, it seems pretty trivial to me. On landing it is a glider. So basically what they are complaining about is that a glider strayed out of the path on the flight plan that had been filed. This is really not a big deal.

The difficulty they cite seems to be that they failed to inform the FAA about it, not that there was anytihng dangerous.

Re:

[Ed Tice]

A slap on the wrist for this seems reasonable. When the story of the initial investigation and grounding came out, the most common reaction was that an investigation and grounding for such a minor deviation during a test flight seemed pretty unreasonable. That was certainly my initial feeling. But usually there is some additional fact that come out. And now we know what it is. Deviating from the flight path, well its an experimental aircraft. Failing to report the deviation well that's a bigger deal.

Re:

[tlhIngan]

I have to say, it seems pretty trivial to me. On landing it is a glider. So basically what they are complaining about is that a glider strayed out of the path on the flight plan that had been filed. This is really not a big deal.

The difficulty they cite seems to be that they failed to inform the FAA about it, not that there was anytihng dangerous.

Well it could've been dangerous because there could be other things flying in areas near the flight path.

The reason the FAA is notified is so they can notify every

Expand the protected space?

[jd]

So basically "you can't control the damn thing, so let's make the lanes wider".

Editors, EDIT !

[bettersheep]

"updated calculations to expand the protected airspace for future flights" and "additional steps into the Company's flight procedures to ensure real-time mission notifications to FAA Air Traffic Control."
Another change: "Updated calculations to expand the protected airspace for future flights," the company said.

SPOT THE FUCK UP.

Re:Editors, EDIT !

[XXongo]

"updated calculations to expand the protected airspace for future flights" and "additional steps into the Company's flight procedures to ensure real-time mission notifications to FAA Air Traffic Control." Another change: "Updated calculations to expand the protected airspace for future flights," the company said. SPOT THE FUCK UP.

Spotted it! The fuckup is that the link in summary is to a story on use of CRISPR genetic editing tech to cure color blindness. A link to the actual story is here: https://www.space.com/faa-clea... [space.com]

Other than that, a glider strayed out of the path they filed in their flight plan, and the FAA is annoyed that they didn't notify air traffic control.

You know what? That's really really not a big deal. Remind them "hey, you gotta talk to air traffic control" and you've covered it.

WOW

[TonyBeals]

This is what I understand really cosmic news!

Piloted

[backslashdot]

The biggest blunder is having a piloted spaceship. They are crazy.

Re:

[Narcocide]

What, so if the first pilot of this historic flight wanted to do a barrel roll with his feet while getting a bj, what gives us the right to judge?

Re:

[nagora]

The biggest blunder is having a piloted spaceship. They are crazy.

I don't think there's any issue with having a pilotable craft as a potential backup.

Because Rich People Do Anything They Want

[BrendaEM]

Rich = No Harm Done.