Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic spaceflight will fly the first ever paying customers to the edge of space today. The firm is aiming to make these kinds of spaceflights a monthly occurrence, with seats priced between $250,000 (£191,000) and $450,000 (£344,000). Those joining the flight include an 80-year-old former Olympian with Parkinson’s disease and a mother and daughter duo who won their tickets in a sweepstake. Taking off from New Mexico, Galactic 02 will take the three passengers 50 miles (80km) above Earth.
Virgin Galactic’s first space tourism flight prepares for launch








