Tens of thousands are expected to tune in to watch the take off of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic first flight with tourists. It will launch from from Spaceport America, around 45 miles north of Las Cruces in New Mexico, US
Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic much anticipated take off is due to launch shortly and take three members of the public into orbit.
Thousands are set to watch the launch, along with the hundreds who travelled to see it in person as the flight marked Virgin Galactic’s third this year.
Six members of crew are due to launch into space aboard the VSS Unity spaceplane along with a British 80-year-old who bought his ticket 18 years ago and a mum and daughter pair from the Caribbean.
If the launch is successful, Richard Branson’s company will begin offering monthly trip to customers on its space plane, joining Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin in the space tourism industry.