The first billionaire to reach space got into a bit of trouble
Richard Branson made history on July 11 when he became the first billionaire to reach space. But things turned sour in the ensuing days after reporting that his pilots ignored a warning light during the 53 mile (86 km) ascent. Virgin Galactic’s spaceplane, VSS Unity, veered off course, causing it to fly in unsanctioned airspace. And because the spaceplane failed to reach its intended trajectory, the pilots risked a hazardous descent and landing. Alarmed, the Federal Aviation Administration grounded Virgin Galactic pending an investigation into the incident. The company made the required corrective actions, so the FAA restored its license in late September.
