Billionaire Richard Branson reached the edge of space yesterday and became the first billionaire to do so in the Virgin Galactic Unity 22. The UK entrepreneur flew above New Mexico in the US in the vehicle that the company has been developing for the past 17 years. He called the trip an “experience of a lifetime.”

Branson became the first space tourism advocate to teach space beating SpaceX’s Elon Musk and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos. The vehicle reached a heft of 84km or about 282,000 feet. However, an official number is yet to be confirmed by Virgin Galactic. Branson was accompanied by three Galactic employees - Indian-born Sirisha Bandla, Beth Moses, and Colin Bennett. The vehicle was flown by its two pilots Dave Mackay and Michael Masucci.

© Virgin Galactic

Richard Branson billed the flight as a successful space tourism experience which he expects to start selling to customers from next year. Some 600 individuals have already paid deposits for tickets that will cost $250,000 (Rs 1,86,21,875). 

© Virgin Galactic

These customers will be paying for a chance to reach a height from where they can see the sky turn black and look at Earth’s horizon as it curves away in the distance. Customers will also be able to experience five minutes of weightlessness during the flight where they can float around inside Unity’s cabin. 

How The Virgin Galactic Unity Works 

© Virgin Galactic

Unity is not exactly a spaceship as it is only a sub-orbital vehicle. This means that the vehicle cannot maintain enough velocity and altitude to remain in space and circle the globe. The vehicle has been designed to allow passengers to see stunning views at the top of its climb. The unity is carried by a larger aircraft up to an altitude of 50,000 ft and is then released. 

The Unity then fires up its rocket motor in the back to climb further. The maximum height achievable by Unity is roughly 90km (55 miles, or 295,000ft). Passengers are allowed to unbuckle to float to a window.

Jeff Bezos To Go Higher

© Reuters

Richard Branson will not be the only billionaire who will get to go to space as Jeff Bezos announced last month that he will be also be going on July 20th in Blue Origin’s New Shepard. Bezos is also reportedly expected to go to a higher altitude than Richard Branson.  

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