Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic is forced to ground all space tourism flights after a routine inspection reveals a key component accidentally fell off the plane during flight

Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic was forced to ground all flights after a routine inspection revealed a part accidentally fell from the plane during flight.

The space tourism company says an alignment pin “inadvertently” became loose from the mothership, VMS Eve, during the first flight of the year.

This pin ensures that the space plane, VMS Unity, remains aligned with VMS Eve as it is carried to the edge of space.

Virgin Galactic insists the safety of the flight, named Galactic 06, was unaffected.

However, no further flights will be permitted until the FAA, the US flight regulator, conducts an ‘accident investigation’.

The Virgin Galactic flight takes passengers into space by transporting a small rocket-powered space plane to 45,000 feet, suspended under the belly of a large mothership aircraft

In a statement, Virgin Galactic said the loss was discovered during post-flight checks and that the company notified the FAA on January 31.

The company says the alignment pin “ensures that the starship aligns with the mothership when docking the vehicles on the ground during pre-flight procedures.”

It adds that the pin also “helps transfer drag and other forces from the spaceship” as the spaceship climbs.

However, the statement emphasizes that the pin only fell off after the spaceship had already separated from the mothership.

Virgin Galactic said: ‘At no time did the loosened alignment pin have a safety impact on the vehicles or crew on board.

“Virgin Galactic flights take place in restricted airspace and at specific geographic launch locations that control hazards to people or structures on the ground.”

Richard Branson, the billionaire owner of Virgin Records and Virgin Galactic, has previously said he wants to make spaceflight available to the general public

The company says the pin only fell off after the spaceplane had already detached (point 02 on the diagram) and that the safety of the engagement was not compromised

Richard Branson’s space tourism company offers individuals the chance to take a short suborbital spaceflight.

The 40-meter-wide mothership aircraft takes the VMS Unity to an altitude of 45,000 feet, after which the pilots disconnect the spacecraft and ignite the engine.

This raises the craft straight up to an altitude of about 50 miles, where the crew is weightless for three minutes before returning to Earth.

The company completed its first test flights in May last year and began commercial flights in June.

The first crew of space tourists included a mother and daughter from Antigua who won their tickets to a 2021 competition, and a former Olympian who paid $250,000 (£198,110).

Yet $250,000 (£198,110) is just the starting price for tickets on board a Virgin Galactic flight and prices can go up to $450,000 (£356,598).

Virgin Galactic and the FAA are now investigating how this problem could have arisen

The company has previously run afoul of U.S. flight rules and was grounded by the FAA in 2021 after a test flight deviated from its flight path.

After leaving approved airspace for one minute and 41 seconds, all flights were suspended until the company made changes regarding air traffic control and clearance.

Virgin Galactic says it is conducting an investigation into this latest issue in conjunction with the FAA.

However, the FAA says all flights will remain grounded until it can “approve Virgin Galactic’s final report, including corrective actions,” before the company can resume flying.

Until the FAA approves Virgin Galactic’s final report, VMS Unity (pictured) will be banned from flying

The agency said: “A return to flight is based on the FAA’s determination that any system, process or procedure related to the accident would not adversely affect public safety.

“In addition, Virgin Galactic must seek and obtain FAA approval to amend its license to include corrective action and meet all other licensing requirements.”

Virgin Galactic’s next flight, Galactic 07, is scheduled to take place between April and June this year.

The company says it can confirm the flight window and provide an additional update once it completes its assessment of this issue.

MailOnline has contacted Virgin Galactic for additional information.