Branson, who turns 71 in a week, had originally planned the flight for later this summer.
Virgin Galactic has plans for two more test flights before commercial service begins in 2022.
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, N.M. – Billionaire entrepreneur and adventurer Richard Branson s dream of space travel was realized and celestial tourism took a leap forward Sunday as Virgin Galactic s rocket ship reached the edge of space during a historic flight from Spaceport America.
Branson and his crew experienced about four minutes of weightlessness before their space plane smoothly glided to a runway landing. The entire trip, delayed 90 minutes because of bad weather the previous night, lasted about an hour. An ecstatic Branson hugged family and friends who greeted him after landing.
In this photo provided by Virgin Galactic, lead operations engineer Colin Bennett, top, shows a message for @England from space as he and other crew members experience zero gravity while aboard Virgin Galactic s winged rocket ship on Sunday, July 11, 2021. Entrepreneur Richard Branson and five crewmates from his Virgin Galactic space-tourism company reached an altitude of about 53 miles (88 kilometers) over the New Mexico desert, enough to experience three to four minutes of weightlessness and see the curvature of the Earth.
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All You Need To Know About Billionaire Richard Branson’s 15-Miniute Flight To Edge Of Space
‘The name s Branson. Sir Richard Branson. Astronaut Double-oh-one. License to thrill,’ Virgin group owner Richard Branson said before he boarded a winged rocket ship to head to space on Sunday
Associated Press (AP) 12 July 2021, Last Updated at 7:31 am Instagram Associated Press (AP) 2021-07-12T07:29:06+05:30 All You Need To Know About Billionaire Richard Branson’s 15-Miniute Flight To Edge Of Space outlookindia.com 2021-07-12T07:31:31+05:30
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Swashbuckling billionaire Richard Branson hurtled into space aboard his own winged rocket ship Sunday, bringing astro-tourism a step closer to reality and beating out his exceedingly richer rival Jeff Bezos.
Truth or Consequences, N.M.
Swashbuckling billionaire Richard Branson hurtled into space aboard his own winged rocket ship Sunday, bringing astro-tourism a step closer to reality and beating out his exceedingly richer rival Jeff Bezos.
The nearly 71-year-old Branson and five crewmates from his Virgin Galactic space-tourism company reached an altitude of 53.5 miles (86 kilometers) over the New Mexico desert enough to experience three to four minutes of weightlessness and witness the curvature of the Earth and then glided back home to a runway landing.
“The whole thing, it was just magical, a jubilant Branson said on his return aboard the gleaming white space plane, named Unity.
Billionaire Branson returns to Earth after a space voyage
Billionaire Branson returns to Earth after a space voyage
AFP / Updated: Jul 12, 2021, 06:00 IST
Swashbuckling entrepreneur
Richard Branson hurtled into space aboard his own winged rocket ship Sunday in his boldest adventure yet, beating out fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos.
The nearly 71-year-old
Branson and five crewmates from his
Virgin Galactic space tourism company reached an altitude of about 53 miles (88 km) over the New Mexico desert enough to experience three to four minutes of weightlessness and see the curvature of the Earth and then safely glided home to a runway landing.
“Seventeen years of hard work to get us this far,’’ a jubilant Branson said as he congratulated his team on the trip back aboard the sleek white space plane, named Unity.