Space News from SpaceDaily.com
ROCKET SCIENCE
Virgin Galactic receives approval from FAA for Full Commercial Launch License
by Staff Writers
TECHNOLOGY NEWS
Commercial UAV Expo | Sept 2-4, 2025 | Las Vegas

Las Cruces NM (SPX) Jun 28, 2021
Virgin Galactic has announced that the Federal Aviation Administration has updated the Company's existing commercial space transportation operator license to allow the spaceline to fly customers to space.

The Company also announced that it has completed an extensive review of data gathered from its May 22 test flight and confirmed that the flight performed well against all flight objectives.

The adjustment to Virgin Galactic's operator's license, which the Company has held since 2016, marks the first time the FAA has licensed a spaceline to fly customers. It is further validation of the Company's methodical testing program, which has met the verification and validation criteria required by the FAA.

Michael Colglazier, Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Galactic, said, "We're incredibly pleased with the results of our most recent test flight, which achieved our stated flight test objectives. The flight performed flawlessly, and the results demonstrate the safety and elegance of our flight system. Approval by the FAA of our full commercial launch license, in conjunction with the success of our May 22 test flight, give us confidence as we proceed toward our first fully crewed test flight this summer."

The May 22 test flight of VMS Eve and VSS Unity was the Company's third crewed spaceflight and the first-ever spaceflight from Spaceport America, New Mexico. The flight achieved a speed of Mach 3 and reached space at an altitude of 55.5 miles. After an extensive review of the data collected during the flight, the Company confirmed that:

The rocket-powered test of the spaceship's upgraded horizontal stabilizers and flight controls demonstrated strong performance, in line with predictions. These enhanced systems, which allow for finer pilot control, will also be deployed in future spaceships in the Company's fleet.

The cabin environment data was in line with predictions.

The flight successfully carried three revenue-generating research experiments that tested and demonstrated technologies in microgravity as part of NASA's Flight Opportunities Program. The pilots flew VSS Unity on a specific trajectory designed to meet the objectives of these research experiments.

With the data analysis from the May flight now complete, Virgin Galactic will continue preparing for the remaining three test flights.

Related Links
Virgin Galactic
Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com



ROCKET SCIENCE
Student Experiments to Blast Off from NASA Wallops
Wallops Island VA (SPX) Jun 25, 2021
The launch of the Terrier-Improved Orion carrying the RockOn/RockSat-C payloads has been postponed to 8 - 10 a.m., Friday, June 25. The launch attempt for June 24 was postponed due to expected rough seas that would prevent the ability to recover the payloads. After being developed via a virtual learning experience, more than 70 experiments built by university students across the United States are ready for flight on NASA suborbital flight vehicles. The launch of a NASA Terrier-Improved Orion
ROCKET SCIENCE
Thomas and the blue marble

NASA to send mannequins to moon to prepare for crewed missions

Astronauts unfurl 60-foot-long space station solar array

How astronauts can do laundry during space mission

ROCKET SCIENCE
Student Experiments to Blast Off from NASA Wallops

Virgin Galactic receives approval from FAA for Full Commercial Launch License

Sierra Space provides integration services for nuclear propulsion system for DARPA's Draco Program

China's Long March rocket has world's highest success rate: expert

ROCKET SCIENCE
Study Looks More Closely at Mars' Underground Water Signals

Insight Mars Lander may die this year due to dust

Study Sheds New Light on Composition at Base of Martian Southern Polar Cap

Video, audio clips shed light on historic Mars mission

ROCKET SCIENCE
China is using mythology and sci-fi to sell its space program to the world

How does China's urine recycling system work in space

China building new space environment monitoring station

Xi lauds 'new horizon' for humanity in space chat with astronauts

ROCKET SCIENCE
Virgin Orbit selects new VP of Flight and Launch

Iridium awarded $30M contract by the US Army

Patents help build a global map of new space industry

Benchmark unveils in-space mobility service to unlock OSAM innovations

ROCKET SCIENCE
Setting gold and platinum standards where few have gone before

Detergent maker helps NASA explore space laundry

A new chapter for space sustainability

NIST method uses radio signals to image hidden and speeding objects

ROCKET SCIENCE
Collection of starshade research helps advance exoplanet imaging by space telescopes

Are we missing other Earths

Scientists use stellar mass to link exoplanets to planet-forming disks

Unique exoplanet photobombs Cheops study of nearby star system

ROCKET SCIENCE
Giant comet found in outer solar system by Dark Energy Survey

Next stop Jupiter as country's interplanetary ambitions grow

First images of Ganymede as Juno sailed by

Leiden astronomers calculate genesis of Oort cloud in chronologically order



Buy Advertising Editorial Enquiries

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2018 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS newswire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement