NEW YORK, NY / FOX BUSINESS
Richard Branson reached space on a test flight for Virgin Galactic before gliding back to earth and touching down safely Sunday, the latest salvo in the burgeoning space tourism business led by high-profile billionaires.
The Virgin Group founder launched Sunday with three company employees, flying 53 miles above the earth in a final test mission before kicking off commercial space flights next year. Branson – who earned his pilot’s license – tested the astronaut cabin experience.
A photo released by the company showed Branson and the three others in zero gravity.
After landing, Branson tweeted that going to space was “more magical than I ever imagined.”
I have dreamt about this moment since I was a child, but going to space was more magical than I ever imagined https://t.co/Wyzj0nOBgX #Unity22 @virgingalactic pic.twitter.com/grs7vHAzca
— Richard Branson (@richardbranson) July 11, 2021
Branson tweeted a photo of him with SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk Sunday morning, saying he is “feeling good, feeling excited, feeling ready.”
“Big day ahead,” Branson wrote. “Great to start the morning with a friend.”
Big day ahead. Great to start the morning with a friend. Feeling good, feeling excited, feeling ready.
Watch #Unity22 launch and livestream TODAY at 7:30 am PT | 10:30 am ET | 3:30 pm BST.@virgingalactic @elonmusk https://t.co/1313b4RAKI pic.twitter.com/FRQqrQEbH8
— Richard Branson (@richardbranson) July 11, 2021
Crowds greeted Branson as he arrived for the launch. He waved, smiled and flashed a thumbs up in return.
The company reported that overnight weather prevented crews from starting flight preparations and delayed liftoff by 90 minutes.
“The future of space tourism in New Mexico is getting one step closer!” Virgin Galactic tweeted Saturday.
Source FOX BUSINESS
