Richard Branson travels to space aboard Virgin Galactic spacecraft.

July 12, 2021

This is a massive step towards the realisation of commercial space tourism.

Yesterday, Sir Richard Branson took to space aboard a vessel created by his space exploration company, Virgin Galactic. Branson and his crew took to space as part of the first commercial space trip his company has charted. The hope is that this is the first step towards making space travel more accessible for the public who wishes to experience the journey of a lifetime. The ship reached a peak altitude of around 53 miles (85 kilometers) — beyond the boundary of space, according to the United States — allowing the passengers to experience weightlessness and admire the Earth’s curvature. The journey proceeded with no issues at all, leading many to argue that the future of space travel might finally have arrived.