Virgin Galactic enters commercial space tourism, launches first flight

After 20 years, Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic rocket plane, Unity, took its first paying customers—three Italians—to space yesterday.

At the peak of its climb, the 72-minute mission took the spacecraft up to 279,00 feet. 

It was the first purchased mission. Richard Branson hopes to begin sending the ~800 people who’ve bought tickets to ride on Unity. The space tourism company believes it can start generating revenue by charging $450,000 per ticket.