Richard Branson launches into space on Virgin Galactic

English business magnate Richard Branson launched into space on a spaceplane created by his company Virgin Galactic on Sunday morning. 

The highly anticipated launch, from Virgin Galactic’s Spaceport America in New Mexico, was slightly delayed on Sunday morning due to weather. 

The spacecraft, carrying Branson and five other occupants, has been dubbed SpaceShipTwo Unity and will carry the group to the 50-mile altitude that the Federal Aviation Administration recognizes as the edge of space, according to The Washington Post. 

The Virgin Galactic spaceflight has taken off. https://t.co/xOmHQdoTNX pic.twitter.com/JKKHRNaoy8

— Mediaite (@Mediaite) July 11, 2021

Several other wealthy business owners, including Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, who have also expressed an interest in space travel, wished Branson well on his launch on Sunday. 

Virgin Galactic has made three test flights with a crew into space, according to The Associated Press.