CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) \u2014 The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday that Virgin Galactic cannot launch anyone into space again until an investigation is complete into a mishap that occurred during July\u2019s flight with founder Richard Branson. The ban came as Virgin Galactic announced plans to launch three Italian researchers to the edge of space [\u2026]<\/b>
\nCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) \u2014 The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday that Virgin Galactic cannot launch anyone into space again until an investigation is complete into a mishap that occurred during July\u2019s flight with founder Richard Branson. The ban came as Virgin Galactic announced plans to launch three Italian researchers to the edge of space in a few weeks. The FAA said the rocketship carrying Branson and five Virgin Galactic employees veered off course during its descent back to New Mexico on July 11. The deviation put the ship outside the air traffic control clearance area. The FAA is overseeing the probe; it\u2019s responsible for protecting the public during commercial launches and reentries. Crew safety, on the other hand, is outside its jurisdiction. Virgin Galactic insisted Thursday that Branson and everyone else on board were never in any added danger. \u201cVirgin Galactic may not return the SpaceShipTwo vehicle to flight until the FAA approves the final mishap investigation report or determines the issues related to the mishap do not affect public safety,\u201d the FAA said in a statement. Virgin Galactic acknowledged the space plane dropped below the protected airspace for one minute and 41 seconds. The spacecraft\u2019s free-flying portion of the up-and-down flight lasted about 15 minutes and reached an altitude of 53.5 miles. Virgin Galactic said high-altitude wind caused the change in flight path and insisted the two pilots \u201cresponded appropriately.\u201d In a statement, the company said the flight was \u201ca safe and successful test flight that adhered to our flight procedures and training protocols.\u201d \u201cAt no time were passengers and crew put in any danger as a result of this change in trajectory,\u201d the company noted. Branson ended up beating fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos \u2014 founder of Amazon as well as rocket company Blue Origin \u2014 into space by nine days. Bezos launched July 20 with three others from West Texas. Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin are vying to sell seats to tourists, scientists and anyone else looking to experience a few minutes of weightlessness.<\/p>\n