Virgin Galactic gets FAA's OK to launch customers to space

Virgin Galactic finally has the federal government's OK to start launching customers into space from New Mexico

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Virgin Galactic finally has the federal government’s approval to start launching customers into space from New Mexico. Richard Branson’s rocketship company announced the Federal Aviation Administration’s updated license on Friday. It’s the final hurdle in Virgin Galactic’s yearslong effort to send paying passengers on short space hops. The company is working toward three more space test flights, with the next one this summer. The original plans called for Branson to be aboard a test flight later this year, with flights for paying customers beginning next year.