US Regulator Grounds Virgin Galactic Over Flight Deviation From Planned Trajectory

It is now unclear whether Virgin's next test flight, involving members of the Italian Air Force, will take place as scheduled in late September or early October.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Thursday said it was grounding space flights by Virgin Galactic while it investigates why the company's July 11 voyage carrying Richard Branson deviated from its planned trajectory. The move represents a blow to the private space company as it prepares to carry paying customers following its first fully-crewed test flight. It is now unclear whether Virgin's next test flight, involving members of the Italian Air Force, will take place as scheduled in late September or early October. "The FAA is overseeing the Virgin Galactic investigation of its July 11 SpaceShipTwo mishap that occurred over Spaceport America, New Mexico," the agency said in a short statement.