You're Cleared for Blast-Off: Virgin Galactic Gets FAA Approval

Virgin Galactic is one step closer to taking tourists to space, after signing an agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Thursday.

The agreement provides details on how the Albuquerque Air Route Traffic Control Center and the New Mexico Spaceport Authority will provide the space tourism company with safe airspace around Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, the location of Spaceport America, for SpaceShipTwo.

"The agreement provides procedures for the safe integration of commercial, licensed space launch operations into the National Airspace System from Spaceport America," according to Virgin Galactic's statement. Read more...