Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic grounded after part ‘detaches’ on $450K space tourism voyage

In space, no one can hear a pin drop.

Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic was forced to ground its rocket after a part fell off during its first space tourism flight of 2024.

The “alignment pin detached” during its most recent spaceflight, Galactic 06, on Jan. 26, the company announced Tuesday.

The pin was used to hold together the two halves of the Virgin Galactic spaceship — the “mothership” VMS Eve that pilots the voyage and the rocket that carries tourists into outer space.

Eight people were on board when the incident occurred — four pilots divided among the two aircraft and four people who paid for the commercial trip beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

Tickets for the out-of-this-world experience cost roughly $450,000.