Virgin Galactic's Richard Branson takes off for high-altitude launch into space

VSS Unity rocket plane took off on Sunday carrying a Virgin Galactic rocket plane with British billionaire Richard Branson aboard in the vehicle's first fully crewed test flight to space.

A twin-fuselage jet took off on Sunday carrying a Virgin Galactic rocket plane primed to soar more than 50 miles above the New Mexico desert with British billionaire Richard Branson aboard in the vehicle's first fully crewed test flight to space. Branson, one of six Virgin Galactic Holding Inc employees strapping in for the flight, has touted the mission as a precursor to a new era of space tourism, with the company he founded poised to begin commercial operations next year.