Branson and a crew that included two pilots and three mission specialists boarded Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity which will be carried to an altitude of 8 miles by WhiteKnightTwo, a sleek, twin-fuselage jet, before it detaches and the rocket-propelled craft flies 55 miles to the fringes of the atmosphere.
“The name’s Branson. Sir Richard Branson. Astronaut Double-oh one. License to thrill,” Branson joked before boarding.
Richard Branson launches into space Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson is greeted by school children before heading to board the rocket plane that will fly him to the edge of space from Spaceport America near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, Sunday, July 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton) (Andres Leighton/AP)
Richard Branson launches into space The Virgin Galactic rocket plane, with founder Richard Branson and other crew members on board, lands back in Spaceport America near Truth or Consequences, N.M., Sunday, July 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton) (Andres Leighton/AP)
Richard Branson launches into space The Virgin Galactic rocket plane is released by the mothership heading to space with founder Richard Branson on board seen from Spaceport America near Truth or Consequences, N.M., Sunday, July 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton) (Andres Leighton/AP)
Richard Branson launches into space Special guests chat as they wait for Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson's launch to space aboard his own rocket ship near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, Sunday, July 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton) (Andres Leighton/AP)
Richard Branson launches into space The rocket plane carrying Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson and other crew members takes off from Spaceport America near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, Sunday, July 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton) (Andres Leighton/AP)
Richard Branson launches into space Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson, right, is greeted by school children before heading to board the rocket plane that will fly him to the edge of space from Spaceport America near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, Sunday, July 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton) (Andres Leighton/AP)
Richard Branson launches into space A photographer prepares his camera as the sun rises over Spaceport America before Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson launches to space aboard his own rocket ship near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, Sunday, July 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton) (Andres Leighton/AP)
Richard Branson launches into space Sirisha Bandla, Virgin Galactic's Vice President of Government Affairs and Research Operations, and one of the passengers accompanying Richard Branson, waves to the crowd before heading to board the rocket plane that will fly them to space from Spaceport America near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, Sunday, July 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton) (Andres Leighton/AP)
Richard Branson launches into space Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson waves good bye while heading to board the rocket plane that will fly him to space from Spaceport America near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, Sunday, July 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton) (Andres Leighton/AP)
Richard Branson launches into space This May 29, 2018 photo made available by Virgin Galactic shows the company's VSS Unity on its second supersonic flight. After reaching nearly 50,000 feet (15,000 meters), Unity will be released from the specially designed aircraft Mothership Eve, and drop for a moment or two before its rocket motor ignites to send the craft on a steep climb toward space. (Virgin Galactic via AP) (Virgin Galactic/AP)
Branson and the crew will experience weightlessness for a few minutes before returning to Earth with a runway landing.
The flight is intended to boost confidence for Branson’s space tourism company. Branson was not supposed to fly until later in the summer but changed his plans after Jeff Bezos announced he planned to take his own rocket ship to space July 20.
Virgin Galactic has already booked 600 reservations. Bezo’s Blue Origin has not yet opened ticket sales or announced prices.