Richard Branson Launches Into Space Aboard His Virgin Galactic Rocket Plane

Richard Branson flew to the edge of space on Sunday aboard a rocket-powered plane, 22 years after he created the Virgin Galactic brand that aims to lead a brand-new tourism industry. His Virgin Galactic passenger rocket plane should soar more than 50 miles (80 km) above the New Mexico desert in the vehicle's first fully crewed test flight to the edge of space.

Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity, as the spaceplane is called, has conducted more than 20 test flights, three of which have reached the edge of space and made five Virgin Galactic employees into pin-carrying astronauts. But Branson's flight made him the first billionaire founder of space company to actually travel into space aboard a vehicle he helped fund.

7-11-2021