Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Virgin Galactic Gets FAA Approval For Flight Testing

Mojave-based Virgin Galactic is taking another step forward, saying on Monday that it has received FAA approval to flight tests on its new SpaceShipTwo vehicle. Virgin Galactic said it received the operator license for SpaceShipTwo from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's Office of Commercial Space Transportation (FAA-AST). Virgin Galactic said the license is the first step in eventual commercial operations for its space vehicle. Virgin Galactic has been fighting its way back into the air, since a disaster suffered during testing back in October 2014, which resulted in the death of one of its test pilots. Virgin Galactic said it also has conducted taxi testing of its SpaceShipTwo, showing the new craft being towed by a Land Rover.