After a successful trip to space, Richard Branson has urged young people to achieve their dreams and aim for the stars, quite literally.

Giving out the message of never giving up, Branson told youngsters in a tweet, "To the next generation of dreamers: if we can do this, just imagine what you can do". Branson said he had always wanted to fly high and his dream has come true as he became one of the first humans to travel on commercial spaceflight.

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I was once a child with a dream looking up to the stars. Now I'm an adult in a spaceship looking down to our beautiful Earth. To the next generation of dreamers: if we can do this, just imagine what you can do <a href="https://t.co/Wyzj0nOBgX">https://t.co/Wyzj0nOBgX</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Unity22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Unity22</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/virgingalactic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@virgingalactic</a> <a href="https://t.co/03EJmKiH8V">pic.twitter.com/03EJmKiH8V</a>
— Richard Branson (@richardbranson) <a href="https://twitter.com/richardbranson/status/1414289206717865984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-richard-bransons-spaceflight-touches-down-after-successful-trip-to-space-397445">Richard Branson's spaceflight touches down after successful trip to space</a>

"I was once a child with a dream looking up to the stars. Now I'm an adult in a spaceship looking down to our beautiful Earth," he said in a live feed video.

Branson believes space is 'for all humanity' and has thus teamed up with Omaze to give interested candidates a chance to travel to space. Interested people can now fill in their details on Omaze.com/space.

"Every charitable donation goes to support Space For Humanity and you’ll be entered into the Omaze sweepstake for the chance to win two seats aboard one of the first commercial Virgin Galactic space flights," Branson announced.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/aim-for-stars-richard-bransons-journey-from-record-store-to-space-trip-397420">&nbsp;‘Aim for stars’: Richard Branson's journey from record store to space trip</a>

His announcement has come after he took off for space aboard the Virgin Galactic vessel, which is the company's first fully-crewed spaceflight, from Spaceport, New Mexico at around 8:40 am Mountain Time (1440 GMT).

Branson now aims to conduct at least 400 flights to space every year. For his spacious programme, nearly 600 tickets have already been sold to people from 60 different countries. These tickets, ranging from $200,000 to $250,000 have been sold to several Hollywood celebrities too, who have not been named yet.

After a successful trip to space, Richard Branson has urged young people to achieve their dreams and aim for the stars, quite literally. Giving out the message of never giving up, Branson told youngsters in a tweet, "To the next generation of dreamers: if we can do this, just imagine what you can do".

After a successful trip to space, Richard Branson has urged young people to achieve their dreams and aim for the stars, quite literally. Giving out the message of never giving up, Branson told youngsters in a tweet, "To the next generation of dreamers: if we can do this, just imagine what you can do". Branson said he had always wanted to fly high and his dream has come true as he became one of the first humans to travel on commercial spaceflight. I was once a child with a dream looking up to the stars. Now I'm an adult in a spaceship looking down to our beautiful Earth. To the next generation of dreamers: if we can do this, just imagine what you can do https://t.co/Wyzj0nOBgX #Unity22 @virgingalactic pic.twitter.com/03EJmKiH8V — Richard Branson (@richardbranson) July 11, 2021 × Also read | Richard Branson's spaceflight touches down after successful trip to space "I was once a child with a dream looking up to the stars. Now I'm an adult in a spaceship looking down to our beautiful Earth," he said in a live feed video. Branson believes space is 'for all humanity' and has thus teamed up with Omaze to give interested candidates a chance to travel to space. Interested people can now fill in their details on Omaze.com/space. "Every charitable donation goes to support Space For Humanity and you’ll be entered into the Omaze sweepstake for the chance to win two seats aboard one of the first commercial Virgin Galactic space flights," Branson announced. Also read | ‘Aim for stars’: Richard Branson's journey from record store to space trip His announcement has come after he took off for space aboard the Virgin Galactic vessel, which is the company's first fully-crewed spaceflight, from Spaceport, New Mexico at around 8:40 am Mountain Time (1440 GMT). Branson now aims to conduct at least 400 flights to space every year. For his spacious programme, nearly 600 tickets have already been sold to people from 60 different countries. These tickets, ranging from $200,000 to $250,000 have been sold to several Hollywood celebrities too, who have not been named yet.

'Generation of dreamers': Richard Branson leaves message for youngsters after space trip

Sirisha Bandla has become&nbsp;the second India-born, third Indian-American and third Indian-origin woman to go in space.&nbsp;Ahead of her journey as part of the billionaire Richard Branson's team, her grandfather said that he is "overwhelmed with joy".

On July 11, Sirisha Bandla, 33, a native of Guntur district of India's southern Andhra Pradesh state, became a part of a test flight on Virgin Galactic's spacecraft that was the first fully crewed spacecraft to travel beyond the atmosphere of our planet.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/third-indian-origin-woman-sirisha-bandla-set-to-fly-to-space-395551">Third Indian-origin woman, Sirisha Bandla, set to fly to space</a>

As the race to usher in a new era of commercial space travel begins to heat up, a successful flight by&nbsp;British billionaire Richard Branson&nbsp;aboard Virgin's VSS Unity spaceplane became a pivotal moment in the field of space travel.

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Welcome Sirisha Bandla, Colin Bennett, and Beth Moses — our expert crew members joining <a href="https://twitter.com/richardbranson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@richardbranson</a> on our <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Unity22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Unity22</a> test flight. Watch LIVE this Sunday at <a href="https://t.co/5UalYT7Hjb">https://t.co/5UalYT7Hjb</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/SirishaBandla?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SirishaBandla</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/VGChiefTrainer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VGChiefTrainer</a> <a href="https://t.co/F4ZrGnH3vo">pic.twitter.com/F4ZrGnH3vo</a>
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Brandon's mission represents the company's 22nd flying test of VSS Unity, and its fourth manned mission.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/richard-branson-virgin-galactic-spaceflight-where-to-watch-the-launch-live-397416">Richard Branson Virgin Galactic spaceflight: Where to watch the launch LIVE</a>

Following her interest in space, Bandla joined Virgin Galactic in 2015 after completing her studies.

A part of Unity22's amazing crew and as a part of a company dedicated to making space accessible to all, Bandla said in a tweet that she is "honored to be a part of the amazing crew."

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I am so incredibly honored to be a part of the amazing crew of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Unity22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Unity22</a>, and to be a part of a company whose mission is to make space available to all. <a href="https://t.co/sPrYy1styc">https://t.co/sPrYy1styc</a>
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She had always been fascinated by space, according to her grandfather, Dr Ragaiah, a retired scientist.

He said she was very much intrigued by the sky and the unknown.&nbsp;"Looking at the sky and space", she was always fascinated about discovering what exists there.

Before the flight, he said,&nbsp;"I am very happy and overwhelmed with joy. My second granddaughter, she is going to space."

In 2003, Kalpana Chawla, the only female astronaut born in India, died in an accident on board the Columbia Space Shuttle.&nbsp;

Sirisha Bandla has become the second India-born, third Indian-American and third Indian-origin woman to go in space. Ahead of her journey as part of the billionaire Richard Branson's team, her grandfather said that he is "overwhelmed with joy".

Sirisha Bandla has become the second India-born, third Indian-American and third Indian-origin woman to go in space. Ahead of her journey as part of the billionaire Richard Branson's team, her grandfather said that he is "overwhelmed with joy". On July 11, Sirisha Bandla, 33, a native of Guntur district of India's southern Andhra Pradesh state, became a part of a test flight on Virgin Galactic's spacecraft that was the first fully crewed spacecraft to travel beyond the atmosphere of our planet. Also read | Third Indian-origin woman, Sirisha Bandla, set to fly to space As the race to usher in a new era of commercial space travel begins to heat up, a successful flight by British billionaire Richard Branson aboard Virgin's VSS Unity spaceplane became a pivotal moment in the field of space travel. Welcome Sirisha Bandla, Colin Bennett, and Beth Moses — our expert crew members joining @richardbranson on our #Unity22 test flight. Watch LIVE this Sunday at https://t.co/5UalYT7Hjb. @SirishaBandla @VGChiefTrainer pic.twitter.com/F4ZrGnH3vo — Virgin Galactic (@virgingalactic) July 5, 2021 × Brandon's mission represents the company's 22nd flying test of VSS Unity, and its fourth manned mission. Also read | Richard Branson Virgin Galactic spaceflight: Where to watch the launch LIVE Following her interest in space, Bandla joined Virgin Galactic in 2015 after completing her studies. A part of Unity22's amazing crew and as a part of a company dedicated to making space accessible to all, Bandla said in a tweet that she is "honored to be a part of the amazing crew." I am so incredibly honored to be a part of the amazing crew of #Unity22, and to be a part of a company whose mission is to make space available to all. https://t.co/sPrYy1styc — Sirisha Bandla (@SirishaBandla) July 2, 2021 × She had always been fascinated by space, according to her grandfather, Dr Ragaiah, a retired scientist. He said she was very much intrigued by the sky and the unknown. "Looking at the sky and space", she was always fascinated about discovering what exists there. Before the flight, he said, "I am very happy and overwhelmed with joy. My second granddaughter, she is going to space." In 2003, Kalpana Chawla, the only female astronaut born in India, died in an accident on board the Columbia Space Shuttle.

Sirisha Bandla's family reacts to her becoming the second India -born woman in space

Richard Branson realises his lifelong dream with Virgin Galactic spaceflight

Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson took off for space aboard the Virgin Galactic vessel, which is the company's first fully-crewed spaceflight.

The carrier plane took off from Spaceport, New Mexico at around 8:40 am Mountain Time (1440 GMT) and will ascend for around an hour to an altitude of 50,000 feet (15 kilometers).

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I have dreamt about this moment since I was a child, but going to space was more magical than I ever imagined <a href="https://t.co/Wyzj0nOBgX">https://t.co/Wyzj0nOBgX</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Unity22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Unity22</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/virgingalactic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@virgingalactic</a> <a href="https://t.co/grs7vHAzca">pic.twitter.com/grs7vHAzca</a>
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Calling it an 'experience of a lifetime', Richard Branson said through a live feed, "Congratulations to all our wonderful team at Virgin Galactic for 17 years of hard hard work to get us this far."

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/aim-for-stars-richard-bransons-journey-from-record-store-to-space-trip-397420">&nbsp;‘Aim for stars’: Richard Branson's journey from record store to space trip</a>

After that, the mothership will drop the rocket-powered spaceplane, VSS Unity. This spaceplane will ignite its engine and begin ascending at Mac 3 beyond 50 miles of altitude.

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Take-off! The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Unity22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Unity22</a> crew including <a href="https://twitter.com/richardbranson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RichardBranson</a> leave Spaceport America, New Mexico for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VirginGalactic?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VirginGalactic</a>’s first fully-crewed spaceflight. <a href="https://t.co/RxGYp90nu8">pic.twitter.com/RxGYp90nu8</a>
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As the altitude is achieved, the two pilots will cut off the engine for a few minutes and let the four other passengers unbuckle and experience being weightless. They will also be able to observe the Earth’s curvature through the 17 windows, at this point.

After few minutes of heave-like feeling, the pilots will set the course of the ship to re-enter the atmosphere.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/richard-branson-virgin-galactic-spaceflight-where-to-watch-the-launch-live-397416">Richard Branson Virgin Galactic spaceflight: Where to watch the launch LIVE</a>

Branson, an entrepreneur known for his range of businesses and his adventurer spirit, said, "As a child, I wanted to go to space". He had been working on his dream since 2004 when he founded Virgin Galactic. However, he feared an end to that dream when an internal issue caused the death of a pilot of a test flight.

In this flight, he is being accompanied by Dave Mackay, chief pilot, Michael Masucci, pilot, Sirisha Bandla, vice-president of government affairs and research operations, Colin Bennett, lead operations engineer, and Beth Moses, chief astronaut instructor.

Have a look |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-richard-branson-all-set-for-virgin-galactic-spaceflight-397340">&nbsp;Richard Branson all set for Virgin Galactic spaceflight</a>

After this initial flight, Virgin Galactic is planning two more such flights before starting 'spaceflights' on a regular basis from early 2022. Branson aims to conduct at least 400 flights to space every year. For his spacious programme, nearly 600 tickets have already been sold to people from 60 different countries. These tickets, ranging from $200,000 to $250,000 have been sold to several Hollywood celebrities too, who have not been named yet.

With a belief of 'space belongs to us all', Branson has promised that "when we return, I will announce something very exciting to give more people the chance to become an astronaut."

Branson's flight to space comes a little before&nbsp;Jeff Bezos, the ex-Amazon CEO, is set to embark on a similar trip with his brother.

Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson took off for space aboard the Virgin Galactic vessel, which is the company's first fully-crewed spaceflight. The carrier plane took off from Spaceport, New Mexico at around 8:40 am Mountain Time (1440 GMT) and will ascend for around an hour to an altitude of 50,000 feet (15 kilometers).

Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson took off for space aboard the Virgin Galactic vessel, which is the company's first fully-crewed spaceflight. The carrier plane took off from Spaceport, New Mexico at around 8:40 am Mountain Time (1440 GMT) and will ascend for around an hour to an altitude of 50,000 feet (15 kilometers). I have dreamt about this moment since I was a child, but going to space was more magical than I ever imagined https://t.co/Wyzj0nOBgX #Unity22 @virgingalactic pic.twitter.com/grs7vHAzca — Richard Branson (@richardbranson) July 11, 2021 × Calling it an 'experience of a lifetime', Richard Branson said through a live feed, "Congratulations to all our wonderful team at Virgin Galactic for 17 years of hard hard work to get us this far." Also read | ‘Aim for stars’: Richard Branson's journey from record store to space trip After that, the mothership will drop the rocket-powered spaceplane, VSS Unity. This spaceplane will ignite its engine and begin ascending at Mac 3 beyond 50 miles of altitude. Take-off! The #Unity22 crew including @RichardBranson leave Spaceport America, New Mexico for #VirginGalactic’s first fully-crewed spaceflight. pic.twitter.com/RxGYp90nu8 — Virgin Galactic (@virgingalactic) July 11, 2021 × As the altitude is achieved, the two pilots will cut off the engine for a few minutes and let the four other passengers unbuckle and experience being weightless. They will also be able to observe the Earth’s curvature through the 17 windows, at this point. After few minutes of heave-like feeling, the pilots will set the course of the ship to re-enter the atmosphere. Also read | Richard Branson Virgin Galactic spaceflight: Where to watch the launch LIVE Branson, an entrepreneur known for his range of businesses and his adventurer spirit, said, "As a child, I wanted to go to space". He had been working on his dream since 2004 when he founded Virgin Galactic. However, he feared an end to that dream when an internal issue caused the death of a pilot of a test flight. In this flight, he is being accompanied by Dave Mackay, chief pilot, Michael Masucci, pilot, Sirisha Bandla, vice-president of government affairs and research operations, Colin Bennett, lead operations engineer, and Beth Moses, chief astronaut instructor. Have a look | Richard Branson all set for Virgin Galactic spaceflight After this initial flight, Virgin Galactic is planning two more such flights before starting 'spaceflights' on a regular basis from early 2022. Branson aims to conduct at least 400 flights to space every year. For his spacious programme, nearly 600 tickets have already been sold to people from 60 different countries. These tickets, ranging from $200,000 to $250,000 have been sold to several Hollywood celebrities too, who have not been named yet. With a belief of 'space belongs to us all', Branson has promised that "when we return, I will announce something very exciting to give more people the chance to become an astronaut." Branson's flight to space comes a little before Jeff Bezos, the ex-Amazon CEO, is set to embark on a similar trip with his brother.

WATCH| Richard Branson's spaceflight touches down after successful trip to space

As the clock ticks and hour of Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic spaceflight launch draws nearer, the excitement is palpable around 70-year-old billionaire's travel to the edge of space. Branson has been one of the early pioneers who dreamt of commercial space travel when he founded his company Virgin Galactic in 2004.

Though at the time&nbsp;it was thought that commercial space travel would be normal with three to four years, it's&nbsp;better late than never as world looks on with bated breath 17 years after.

Although the exact time of the launch hasn't been made public, the reports suggest that the launch will take place at 1430 GMT. The launch is scheduled to take place from a spaceport in New Mexico.

Richard Branson will be aboard the space vehicle. Branson's official role is to evaluate the private astronaut experience to enhance the journey for future clients.&nbsp;

<h2>How will the launch take place</h2>

A massive carrier plane will take off from a horizontal runway, flown by two pilots, gaining altitude for about an hour.

Below this plane hangs the spaceship VSS Unity -- a SpaceShipTwo-class suborbital rocket-powered spaceplane -- with two more pilots and four passengers: Branson and three Virgin employees.

After climbing to 50,000 feet (15 kilometers), VSS Unity, which is about the size of a private jet, will be dropped and then ignite its rocket-powered engine to ascend at Mach 3 beyond the 50 miles (80 kilometers) of altitude considered the edge of space by US agencies.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/aim-for-stars-richard-bransons-journey-from-record-store-to-space-trip-397420">‘Aim for stars’: Richard Branson's journey from record store to space trip</a>

Once the rocket engine is cut off, passengers can unbuckle and experience a few minutes of weightlessness, while admiring the curvature of Earth from the ship's 17 windows.

After peaking at around 55 miles of altitude, the ship will re-enter the thick part of the atmosphere and glide back to the runway.

<h2>How to watch the Virgin Galactic spaceflight launch LIVE</h2>

The launch will livestreamed by the company. The live stream can be watched on the company's website (virginatlantic.com). The launch will also be live streamed on the company's Facebook, Twiter handles and Youtube channels.

(with inputs from agencies)

As the clock ticks and hour of Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic spaceflight launch draws nearer, the excitement is palpable around 70-year-old billionaire's travel to the edge of space.

As the clock ticks and hour of Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic spaceflight launch draws nearer, the excitement is palpable around 70-year-old billionaire's travel to the edge of space. Branson has been one of the early pioneers who dreamt of commercial space travel when he founded his company Virgin Galactic in 2004. Though at the time it was thought that commercial space travel would be normal with three to four years, it's better late than never as world looks on with bated breath 17 years after. Although the exact time of the launch hasn't been made public, the reports suggest that the launch will take place at 1430 GMT. The launch is scheduled to take place from a spaceport in New Mexico. Richard Branson will be aboard the space vehicle. Branson's official role is to evaluate the private astronaut experience to enhance the journey for future clients. How will the launch take place A massive carrier plane will take off from a horizontal runway, flown by two pilots, gaining altitude for about an hour. Below this plane hangs the spaceship VSS Unity -- a SpaceShipTwo-class suborbital rocket-powered spaceplane -- with two more pilots and four passengers: Branson and three Virgin employees. After climbing to 50,000 feet (15 kilometers), VSS Unity, which is about the size of a private jet, will be dropped and then ignite its rocket-powered engine to ascend at Mach 3 beyond the 50 miles (80 kilometers) of altitude considered the edge of space by US agencies. Also Read | ‘Aim for stars’: Richard Branson's journey from record store to space trip Once the rocket engine is cut off, passengers can unbuckle and experience a few minutes of weightlessness, while admiring the curvature of Earth from the ship's 17 windows. After peaking at around 55 miles of altitude, the ship will re-enter the thick part of the atmosphere and glide back to the runway. How to watch the Virgin Galactic spaceflight launch LIVE The launch will livestreamed by the company. The live stream can be watched on the company's website (virginatlantic.com). The launch will also be live streamed on the company's Facebook, Twiter handles and Youtube channels. (with inputs from agencies)

Richard Branson Virgin Galactic spaceflight: Where to watch the launch LIVE

All eyes are on Richard Branson as he prepares to go to space aboard VSS Unity SpaceShipTwo. The launch is due to take place on July 11 and Branson will be part of the crew that'll go to the edge of the space.

With this, Branson aims to give a fillip to the space travel market. But he is not the first rich guy to travel to space as a tourist.

That place is held by Dennis Tito, the US multimillionaire who became world's first paying space tourist in 2001. Tito had travelled to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard Russian Soyuz rocket. He reportedly shelled out a cool USD 20 million.

Tito still has fond memories of his space travel. In a quote to CNN, he said that he was "euphoric" when he travelled to the ISS, describing it as the "greatest moment" of his life. Nothing could beat that feeling, he said.

Richard Branson founded his company Virgin Galactic in 2004. At the time, it was thought that commercial space travel will be a common thing in 3-4 years.&nbsp;

17 years on and Branson is ready to fly to space himself. The launch will be streamed LIVE online.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/richard-branson-virgin-galactic-spaceflight-where-to-watch-the-launch-live-397416">Click here</a> to know how to watch the launch LIVE.

All eyes are on Richard Branson as he prepares to go to space aboard VSS Unity SpaceShipTwo. The launch is due to take place on July 11 and Branson will be part of the crew that'll go to the edge of the space.

All eyes are on Richard Branson as he prepares to go to space aboard VSS Unity SpaceShipTwo. The launch is due to take place on July 11 and Branson will be part of the crew that'll go to the edge of the space. With this, Branson aims to give a fillip to the space travel market. But he is not the first rich guy to travel to space as a tourist. That place is held by Dennis Tito, the US multimillionaire who became world's first paying space tourist in 2001. Tito had travelled to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard Russian Soyuz rocket. He reportedly shelled out a cool USD 20 million. Tito still has fond memories of his space travel. In a quote to CNN, he said that he was "euphoric" when he travelled to the ISS, describing it as the "greatest moment" of his life. Nothing could beat that feeling, he said. Richard Branson founded his company Virgin Galactic in 2004. At the time, it was thought that commercial space travel will be a common thing in 3-4 years. 17 years on and Branson is ready to fly to space himself. The launch will be streamed LIVE online. Click here to know how to watch the launch LIVE.

Richard Branson is not the first rich guy to travel to space, know who it was

Richard Branson’s mother always taught him to reach for the stars, and with that in mind, literally,&nbsp;the quirky entrepreneur is set to travel to space. While we hope his journey to the space is smooth, his life journey has been full of ups and downs.

Born in 1950 in South East London, Branson is a 70-year-old entrepreneur who is famous for his range of business ideas and infamous for several controversies.

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It’s a beautiful day to go to space. We’ve arrived at <a href="https://twitter.com/Spaceport_NM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Spaceport_NM</a>. Get ready to watch LIVE at 7:30 am PT | 10:30 am ET | 3:30 pm BST <a href="https://t.co/PcvGTmA661">https://t.co/PcvGTmA661</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Unity22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Unity22</a> <a href="https://t.co/4KjGPpjz0M">pic.twitter.com/4KjGPpjz0M</a>
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First million

Branson started his career by interviewing several famous personalities, especially from the music industry, for his magazine named Student. Soon, he opened a record store which faced trouble as he was questioned for selling of records that had declared export stock. However, while the matter was settled out of court, his family had to re-mortgage the house to help pay the settlement.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/richard-branson-virgin-galactic-spaceflight-where-to-watch-the-launch-live-397416">Richard Branson Virgin Galactic spaceflight: Where to watch the launch LIVE</a>

In 1972, he used the money from his record store to set up a record label, Virgin Records. This was his first shot to success. His record label signed on British musician Mike Oldfield who sold millions of copies of his famous album "Tubular Bells", making Branson's label a hit.

<h3>Road to private islands</h3>

The then-20-year-old music mogul earned his first million dollars and a few years later bought his own Caribbean island.

A few years later, as Branson decided to charter a private flight to Puerto Rico, after his flight was delayed, he helped other stranded passengers by offering them a ride in exchange for a small fees. This, many believe, birthed the idea of stepping into the airlines business.

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My mission statement is to turn the dream of space travel into a reality - for my grandchildren, for your grandchildren, for everyone. 
 
Watch the launch of the next space age at 6 am PT | 9 am ET | 2 pm BST on <a href="https://t.co/1313b4RAKI">https://t.co/1313b4RAKI</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/virgingalactic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@virgingalactic</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Unity22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Unity22</a> <a href="https://t.co/JpqXx8cy04">pic.twitter.com/JpqXx8cy04</a>
— Richard Branson (@richardbranson) <a href="https://twitter.com/richardbranson/status/1414078655655940100?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Son of a stewardess, Branson set up Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Cargo in 1984. A flight that offered cheap tickets but high-class service, the airlines quickly became popular.

As they say, every high brings a low.&nbsp;Virgin Atlantic, too, hit a low point when it was entangled in a controversy of price fixing along with British Airways.

Branson, however, quickly saved his venture from crumbling amid the controversy by silently tipping off authorities, as per local media reports back then. As his airlines took off, thus began his appearances in the parties.

<h3>Living his life</h3>

The entertainment master hosted several high-end parties for celebrities and political leaders on Necker Island. He then began 'living his life' by trying out several adventure sports, that he loves. After gaining publicity for his records in speedboats, balloons and even an amphibious car, Branson hit the news for a near-death escape in 1998 after he and his co-pilot were forced to ditch their balloon in the Pacific Ocean as low pressure forced the craft down.

For his services in entrepreneurship, Branson was knighted in 2000 and just when people thought he had peaked, Branson announced that he will be flying to the space in July 2021. His flight has come a few days before Jeff Bezos, the ex-Amazon CEO, is set to embark on a similar trip with his brother.

<h3>Off to space</h3>

The founder of the Virgin Group&nbsp;will fly aboard the VSS Unity SpaceShipTwo rocket plane, an executive jet. His spaceship will fly to an altitude of 55 miles before the pilots will cut the engines, letting the spaceship drift for a few minutes. This will let the passengers feel weightless and will give them a chance to observe the Earth’s curvature through the windows.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/third-indian-origin-woman-sirisha-bandla-set-to-fly-to-space-395551">Third Indian-origin woman, Sirisha Bandla, set to fly to space</a>

Branson will be accompanied by Dave Mackay, chief pilot, Michael Masucci, pilot, Sirisha Bandla, vice-president of government affairs and research operations, Colin Bennett, lead operations engineer, and Beth Moses, chief astronaut instructor.

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Big day ahead. Great to start the morning with a friend. Feeling good, feeling excited, feeling ready. 
 
Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Unity22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Unity22</a> launch and livestream TODAY at 7:30 am PT | 10:30 am ET | 3:30 pm BST.<a href="https://twitter.com/virgingalactic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@virgingalactic</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a> <a href="https://t.co/1313b4RAKI">https://t.co/1313b4RAKI</a> <a href="https://t.co/FRQqrQEbH8">pic.twitter.com/FRQqrQEbH8</a>
— Richard Branson (@richardbranson) <a href="https://twitter.com/richardbranson/status/1414199651037716485?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
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With the hopes of adding a new feather in his cap of achievements, he has gained wishes from fellow entrepreneurs and space enthusiasts, Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.

Whether his journey to space will be as smooth as his road to buying private islands is yet to be seen. But indeed it has been an exciting journey so far&nbsp;for the maverick showman-entrepreneur.&nbsp;

Richard Branson’s mother always taught him to reach for the stars, and with that in mind, literally, the quirky entrepreneur is set to travel to space. While we hope his journey to the space is smooth, his life journey has been full of ups and downs.

Richard Branson’s mother always taught him to reach for the stars, and with that in mind, literally, the quirky entrepreneur is set to travel to space. While we hope his journey to the space is smooth, his life journey has been full of ups and downs. Born in 1950 in South East London, Branson is a 70-year-old entrepreneur who is famous for his range of business ideas and infamous for several controversies. It’s a beautiful day to go to space. We’ve arrived at @Spaceport_NM. Get ready to watch LIVE at 7:30 am PT | 10:30 am ET | 3:30 pm BST https://t.co/PcvGTmA661 #Unity22 pic.twitter.com/4KjGPpjz0M — Richard Branson (@richardbranson) July 11, 2021 × First million Branson started his career by interviewing several famous personalities, especially from the music industry, for his magazine named Student. Soon, he opened a record store which faced trouble as he was questioned for selling of records that had declared export stock. However, while the matter was settled out of court, his family had to re-mortgage the house to help pay the settlement. Also read | Richard Branson Virgin Galactic spaceflight: Where to watch the launch LIVE In 1972, he used the money from his record store to set up a record label, Virgin Records. This was his first shot to success. His record label signed on British musician Mike Oldfield who sold millions of copies of his famous album "Tubular Bells", making Branson's label a hit. Road to private islands The then-20-year-old music mogul earned his first million dollars and a few years later bought his own Caribbean island. A few years later, as Branson decided to charter a private flight to Puerto Rico, after his flight was delayed, he helped other stranded passengers by offering them a ride in exchange for a small fees. This, many believe, birthed the idea of stepping into the airlines business. My mission statement is to turn the dream of space travel into a reality - for my grandchildren, for your grandchildren, for everyone. Watch the launch of the next space age at 6 am PT | 9 am ET | 2 pm BST on https://t.co/1313b4RAKI @virgingalactic #Unity22 pic.twitter.com/JpqXx8cy04 — Richard Branson (@richardbranson) July 11, 2021 × Son of a stewardess, Branson set up Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Cargo in 1984. A flight that offered cheap tickets but high-class service, the airlines quickly became popular. As they say, every high brings a low. Virgin Atlantic, too, hit a low point when it was entangled in a controversy of price fixing along with British Airways. Branson, however, quickly saved his venture from crumbling amid the controversy by silently tipping off authorities, as per local media reports back then. As his airlines took off, thus began his appearances in the parties. Living his life The entertainment master hosted several high-end parties for celebrities and political leaders on Necker Island. He then began 'living his life' by trying out several adventure sports, that he loves. After gaining publicity for his records in speedboats, balloons and even an amphibious car, Branson hit the news for a near-death escape in 1998 after he and his co-pilot were forced to ditch their balloon in the Pacific Ocean as low pressure forced the craft down. For his services in entrepreneurship, Branson was knighted in 2000 and just when people thought he had peaked, Branson announced that he will be flying to the space in July 2021. His flight has come a few days before Jeff Bezos, the ex-Amazon CEO, is set to embark on a similar trip with his brother. Off to space The founder of the Virgin Group will fly aboard the VSS Unity SpaceShipTwo rocket plane, an executive jet. His spaceship will fly to an altitude of 55 miles before the pilots will cut the engines, letting the spaceship drift for a few minutes. This will let the passengers feel weightless and will give them a chance to observe the Earth’s curvature through the windows. Also read | Third Indian-origin woman, Sirisha Bandla, set to fly to space Branson will be accompanied by Dave Mackay, chief pilot, Michael Masucci, pilot, Sirisha Bandla, vice-president of government affairs and research operations, Colin Bennett, lead operations engineer, and Beth Moses, chief astronaut instructor. Big day ahead. Great to start the morning with a friend. Feeling good, feeling excited, feeling ready. Watch #Unity22 launch and livestream TODAY at 7:30 am PT | 10:30 am ET | 3:30 pm BST.@virgingalactic @elonmusk https://t.co/1313b4RAKI pic.twitter.com/FRQqrQEbH8 — Richard Branson (@richardbranson) July 11, 2021 × With the hopes of adding a new feather in his cap of achievements, he has gained wishes from fellow entrepreneurs and space enthusiasts, Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. Whether his journey to space will be as smooth as his road to buying private islands is yet to be seen. But indeed it has been an exciting journey so far for the maverick showman-entrepreneur.

‘Aim for stars’: Richard Branson's journey from record store to space trip

In Pics | Richard Branson all set for Virgin Galactic spaceflight

British billionaire&nbsp;Richard Branson's wife&nbsp;Joan Templeman has said that she will not be going to his funeral if he dies on his spaceflight&nbsp;on July 11.

Branson&nbsp;laughed as he quoted his wife telling him: "'If you're foolish enough to do these wonderful things, you can do it, but I won't be going to your funeral.'"

It comes as&nbsp;Virgin Galactic finalises plans for founder Richard Branson to join five others on a test flight to the edge of space.

Also see|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/who-is-winning-space-tourism-race-between-bezos-branson-and-musk-396420">Who is winning space tourism race between Bezos, Branson and Musk?</a>

Even though&nbsp;Branson's wife may be nervous about the launch but he himself is not the least bit afraid.

Before this weekend's mission on Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Unity, the avowed Star Trek fan attributed his drive and taste for adventure to his mother Eve, who died from Covid in January. &nbsp;

"I've always been a dreamer. My mum taught me to never give up and to reach for the stars," said the London-born 70-year-old.

"I've been looking forward to this for 17 years," Branson said in an interview&nbsp;from Spaceport America near the remote town of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.

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He said pre-flight preparations only add to the excitement ahead of Sunday's scheduled launch, which will be taking place one week before his 71st birthday.

"Every bit about it is a pinch-me moment," he said.

The launch of Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc's VSS Unity rocket plane over the desert will mark the space tourism company's fourth crewed test mission beyond Earth's atmosphere. But it will be the first to carry a full complement of space travelers, consisting of Branson, two pilots and three mission specialists.

Unity will be launched at an altitude of about 50,000 feet from a Virgin Galactic carrier plane, then soar on its own rocket power to the boundary of space, where the crew will experience about 4 minutes of weightlessness before beginning a descent back to Earth.

The trip is not without the inherent hazards of spaceflight. An earlier prototype of the rocket plane crashed during a 2014 test flight over California's Mojave Desert, killing one pilot and seriously injuring the other.

By joining the flight on July 11, Branson has positioned himself to beat rival entrepreneur Jeff Bezos into space by nine days.

Bezos, founder of the retail giant Amazon.com Inc, will be on board the suborbital flight of the New Shepard spacecraft of his own private rocket company, Blue Origin, on July 20.

Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin, along with Elon Musk's SpaceX, are competing head-to-head in the emerging space tourism business.

Branson denied he and Bezos were in a contest to see who would go up first, however.

"I just wish him and people going up with him all the very best. I look forward to talking to him about his ride when he comes back," Branson said of Bezos. "I spoke to him two or three weeks ago, and we both wished each other well."

Success for both ventures is considered key to fostering a burgeoning industry that aims to eventually make space tourism mainstream, at least for high-paying customers.

Virgin has said two additional test flights of its vehicle are planned before the company begins commercial service in 2022, and Branson said he anticipates offering paid flights on a "regular basis" next year.

He also said he was confident there was plenty of room in the market for his venture and Bezos' company to compete.

"Neither of us are going to be able to build enough spaceships to satisfy the demand," Branson said.

(With inputs from agencies)

British billionaire Richard Branson's wife Joan Templeman has said that she will not be going to his funeral if he dies on his spaceflight on July 11. Branson laughed as he quoted his wife telling him: "'If you're foolish enough to do these wonderful things, you can do it, but I won't be going to your funeral.

British billionaire Richard Branson's wife Joan Templeman has said that she will not be going to his funeral if he dies on his spaceflight on July 11. Branson laughed as he quoted his wife telling him: "'If you're foolish enough to do these wonderful things, you can do it, but I won't be going to your funeral.'" It comes as Virgin Galactic finalises plans for founder Richard Branson to join five others on a test flight to the edge of space. Also see| Who is winning space tourism race between Bezos, Branson and Musk? Even though Branson's wife may be nervous about the launch but he himself is not the least bit afraid. Before this weekend's mission on Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Unity, the avowed Star Trek fan attributed his drive and taste for adventure to his mother Eve, who died from Covid in January. "I've always been a dreamer. My mum taught me to never give up and to reach for the stars," said the London-born 70-year-old. "I've been looking forward to this for 17 years," Branson said in an interview from Spaceport America near the remote town of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. He said pre-flight preparations only add to the excitement ahead of Sunday's scheduled launch, which will be taking place one week before his 71st birthday. "Every bit about it is a pinch-me moment," he said. The launch of Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc's VSS Unity rocket plane over the desert will mark the space tourism company's fourth crewed test mission beyond Earth's atmosphere. But it will be the first to carry a full complement of space travelers, consisting of Branson, two pilots and three mission specialists. Unity will be launched at an altitude of about 50,000 feet from a Virgin Galactic carrier plane, then soar on its own rocket power to the boundary of space, where the crew will experience about 4 minutes of weightlessness before beginning a descent back to Earth. The trip is not without the inherent hazards of spaceflight. An earlier prototype of the rocket plane crashed during a 2014 test flight over California's Mojave Desert, killing one pilot and seriously injuring the other. By joining the flight on July 11, Branson has positioned himself to beat rival entrepreneur Jeff Bezos into space by nine days. Bezos, founder of the retail giant Amazon.com Inc, will be on board the suborbital flight of the New Shepard spacecraft of his own private rocket company, Blue Origin, on July 20. Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin, along with Elon Musk's SpaceX, are competing head-to-head in the emerging space tourism business. Branson denied he and Bezos were in a contest to see who would go up first, however. "I just wish him and people going up with him all the very best. I look forward to talking to him about his ride when he comes back," Branson said of Bezos. "I spoke to him two or three weeks ago, and we both wished each other well." Success for both ventures is considered key to fostering a burgeoning industry that aims to eventually make space tourism mainstream, at least for high-paying customers. Virgin has said two additional test flights of its vehicle are planned before the company begins commercial service in 2022, and Branson said he anticipates offering paid flights on a "regular basis" next year. He also said he was confident there was plenty of room in the market for his venture and Bezos' company to compete. "Neither of us are going to be able to build enough spaceships to satisfy the demand," Branson said. (With inputs from agencies)

'I won't be going to his funeral': Richard Branson's wife expresses nervousness about his spaceflight

Who is winning space tourism race between Bezos, Branson and Musk?

British mogul Richard&nbsp;Branson&nbsp;one-upped rival Jeff Bezos on Thursday, announcing&nbsp;that he too will blast beyond Earth's atmosphere&nbsp;nine days ahead of the aspiring billionaire astronaut.

A successful flight by&nbsp;Branson&nbsp;aboard Virgin's VSS Unity spaceplane would mark a key milestone in a race to usher in a new era of private commercial space travel.

It would also mean that&nbsp;Branson&nbsp;would travel beyond Earth's atmosphere ahead of Bezos, the founder of rival space tourism venture Blue Origin.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-jeff-bezos-is-going-to-space-393208/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Bezos, who founded retail giant Amazon.com Inc, is slated to fly to space on July 20 along with his brother, Mark, trailblazing female pilot Wally Funk and a so-far unidentified person who plunked down $28 million to join the suborbital joyride.

With both tycoons having created space tourism companies and positioned themselves as leaders in the suborbital-flights-for-the-wealthy sector, the move signaled clear if not fierce competition.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/billionaire-richard-bransons-virgin-galactic-gets-approval-to-fly-people-to-space-393952">Billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic gets approval to fly people to space</a>

The race, which also includes SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk, is underpinned by optimism that space travel will become mainstream as nascent technology is proven and costs fall, fueling what UBS estimates could be a $3 billion annual tourism market by 2030. Musk has not set a date for his space flight.

"Virgin Galactic stands at the vanguard of a new commercial space industry, which is set to open space to humankind and change the world for good,"&nbsp;Branson&nbsp;said in a statement accompanying Virgin's announcement.

Branson's July 11 mission will be the twenty-second flight test for VSS Unity, and the company's fourth crewed spaceflight, Virgin said.

But it will be the first to carry a full crew of two pilots and four "mission specialists," including&nbsp;Branson.

Two additional test flights are planned before Virgin expects to begin commercial service in 2022, Virgin said.

Apples and oranges

The spacecraft developed by Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin are very different, even if the passengers will ultimately have more or less the same experience: a few minutes of weightlessness.

In the case of Virgin Galactic, the spacecraft is not a classic rocket, but rather a carrier airplane that reaches a high altitude and releases a smaller spacecraft, the VSS Unity, that fires its engines and reaches suborbital space, then glides back to earth.

Blue Origin, meanwhile, is more of a classic rocket experience, with a vertical launch after which a capsule will separate from its booster, then spend four minutes at an altitude exceeding 60 miles (100 kilometers), during which time those onboard experience weightlessness and can observe the curvature of Earth.

The booster lands autonomously on a pad two miles from the launch site, and the capsule floats back to the surface with three large parachutes that slow it down to about a mile per hour when it lands.

(With inputs from agencies)

British mogul Richard Branson one-upped rival Jeff Bezos on Thursday, announcing that he too will blast beyond Earth's atmosphere nine days ahead of the aspiring billionaire astronaut.

British mogul Richard Branson one-upped rival Jeff Bezos on Thursday, announcing that he too will blast beyond Earth's atmosphere nine days ahead of the aspiring billionaire astronaut. A successful flight by Branson aboard Virgin's VSS Unity spaceplane would mark a key milestone in a race to usher in a new era of private commercial space travel. It would also mean that Branson would travel beyond Earth's atmosphere ahead of Bezos, the founder of rival space tourism venture Blue Origin. Bezos, who founded retail giant Amazon.com Inc, is slated to fly to space on July 20 along with his brother, Mark, trailblazing female pilot Wally Funk and a so-far unidentified person who plunked down $28 million to join the suborbital joyride. With both tycoons having created space tourism companies and positioned themselves as leaders in the suborbital-flights-for-the-wealthy sector, the move signaled clear if not fierce competition. Also read| Billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic gets approval to fly people to space The race, which also includes SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk, is underpinned by optimism that space travel will become mainstream as nascent technology is proven and costs fall, fueling what UBS estimates could be a $3 billion annual tourism market by 2030. Musk has not set a date for his space flight. "Virgin Galactic stands at the vanguard of a new commercial space industry, which is set to open space to humankind and change the world for good," Branson said in a statement accompanying Virgin's announcement. Branson's July 11 mission will be the twenty-second flight test for VSS Unity, and the company's fourth crewed spaceflight, Virgin said. But it will be the first to carry a full crew of two pilots and four "mission specialists," including Branson. Two additional test flights are planned before Virgin expects to begin commercial service in 2022, Virgin said. Apples and oranges The spacecraft developed by Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin are very different, even if the passengers will ultimately have more or less the same experience: a few minutes of weightlessness. In the case of Virgin Galactic, the spacecraft is not a classic rocket, but rather a carrier airplane that reaches a high altitude and releases a smaller spacecraft, the VSS Unity, that fires its engines and reaches suborbital space, then glides back to earth. Blue Origin, meanwhile, is more of a classic rocket experience, with a vertical launch after which a capsule will separate from its booster, then spend four minutes at an altitude exceeding 60 miles (100 kilometers), during which time those onboard experience weightlessness and can observe the curvature of Earth. The booster lands autonomously on a pad two miles from the launch site, and the capsule floats back to the surface with three large parachutes that slow it down to about a mile per hour when it lands. (With inputs from agencies)

Space race for billionaires: Richard Branson to make space trip before rival Jeff Bezos

Space tourism company&nbsp;Virgin GalacticOrbit's LauncherOne rocket took seven satellites to orbit after being dropped mid-air from the underside of a modified Boeing 747 nicknamed Cosmic Girl.

The move presents an ideal opportunity for the company to flaunt its ambitions not only to send wealthy tourists on pleasure rides costing $200,000 or more, but also to advance science.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-jeff-bezos-is-going-to-space-393208/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Earlier,&nbsp;the US Federal Aviation Administration&nbsp;approved the first commercial license to take consumers to space for&nbsp;Virgin Galactic.

Virgin Galactic, founded by British billionaire Richard&nbsp;Branson, hopes to begin regular commercial suborbital flights in early 2022, with eventual plans for 400 trips a year.

The flights are far from the classic rocket experience, with a carrier plane taking off from a runway then dropping the spacecraft once in the air, which then ignites its engines.

The company is facing fierce competition in the field of private space exploration from&nbsp;Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and Tesla Inc boss Elon Musk's SpaceX.

Branson, Bezos, and Musk have been investing billions of dollars on their rocket startups.

Virgin Galactic last month completed its first manned space flight from its new homeport in New Mexico in May, as its SpaceShipTwo craft with a capacity of six passengers glided to a landing on a runway safely with its two pilots.

Space tourism company Virgin GalacticOrbit's LauncherOne rocket took seven satellites to orbit after being dropped mid-air from the underside of a modified Boeing 747 nicknamed Cosmic Girl.

Space tourism company Virgin GalacticOrbit's LauncherOne rocket took seven satellites to orbit after being dropped mid-air from the underside of a modified Boeing 747 nicknamed Cosmic Girl. The move presents an ideal opportunity for the company to flaunt its ambitions not only to send wealthy tourists on pleasure rides costing $200,000 or more, but also to advance science. Earlier, the US Federal Aviation Administration approved the first commercial license to take consumers to space for Virgin Galactic. Virgin Galactic, founded by British billionaire Richard Branson, hopes to begin regular commercial suborbital flights in early 2022, with eventual plans for 400 trips a year. The flights are far from the classic rocket experience, with a carrier plane taking off from a runway then dropping the spacecraft once in the air, which then ignites its engines. The company is facing fierce competition in the field of private space exploration from Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and Tesla Inc boss Elon Musk's SpaceX. Branson, Bezos, and Musk have been investing billions of dollars on their rocket startups. Virgin Galactic last month completed its first manned space flight from its new homeport in New Mexico in May, as its SpaceShipTwo craft with a capacity of six passengers glided to a landing on a runway safely with its two pilots.

Race to space: Virgin Orbit launches seven satellites in LauncherOne mission

After getting approval from the US aviation safety regulator on Friday, billionaire Richard Branson's spaceship company Virgin Galactic can now fly people to space.

The approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) comes at a critical time for Branson as his space venture faces off against Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and Tesla Inc boss Elon Musk's SpaceX.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-jeff-bezos-is-going-to-space-393208/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Branson, Bezos and Musk have been investing billions of dollars on their rocket startups.

Branson, who is reportedly flying to space himself in a bid to beat rival billionaire Bezos to the final frontier, received the green light just a month after a successful test flight.

Virgin Galactic last month completed its first manned space flight from its new home port in New Mexico in May, as its SpaceShipTwo craft with a capacity of six passengers glided to a landing on a runway safely with its two pilots.

"Today's approval by the FAA ... gives us confidence as we proceed toward our first fully crewed test flight this summer," Virgin Galactic Chief Executive Officer Michael Colglazier said in a statement.

(With inputs from agencies)

After getting approval from the US aviation safety regulator on Friday, billionaire Richard Branson's spaceship company Virgin Galactic can now fly people to space.

After getting approval from the US aviation safety regulator on Friday, billionaire Richard Branson's spaceship company Virgin Galactic can now fly people to space. The approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) comes at a critical time for Branson as his space venture faces off against Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and Tesla Inc boss Elon Musk's SpaceX. Branson, Bezos and Musk have been investing billions of dollars on their rocket startups. Branson, who is reportedly flying to space himself in a bid to beat rival billionaire Bezos to the final frontier, received the green light just a month after a successful test flight. Virgin Galactic last month completed its first manned space flight from its new home port in New Mexico in May, as its SpaceShipTwo craft with a capacity of six passengers glided to a landing on a runway safely with its two pilots. "Today's approval by the FAA ... gives us confidence as we proceed toward our first fully crewed test flight this summer," Virgin Galactic Chief Executive Officer Michael Colglazier said in a statement. (With inputs from agencies)

Billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic gets approval to fly people to space

Insurers are not ready to price the risk of losing&nbsp;Jeff Bezos or his fellow space travelers as launching one of the richest individuals on earth into orbit has proved a leap too far for them.

Amazon CEO Bezos, a lifelong space enthusiast, has been vying with Elon Musk and Richard Branson to become the first billionaire to fly beyond the earth's atmosphere.

And while insurers are well known for offering cover for even the most outlandish of risks, at a price, potential accidents in space are not yet among them.

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According to&nbsp;Insurance Information Institute (III) spokesperson Michael Barry,&nbsp;"Space tourism involves significant risk, but is not an issue life insurers specifically ask about as yet because it is so rare for anyone to travel into space.''

There is a nearly $500 million market to insure satellites, rockets and unmanned space flight, but no legal requirement for an operator such as Blue Origin, which Bezos founded, to insure passengers for injury or death or for space tourists to have life cover, brokers and insurers said.

"We're not aware of a case where anybody is insured against passenger liability," said Neil Stevens, senior vice president, aviation and space at Marsh, the world's biggest insurance broker.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/elon-musk-and-jeff-bezos-are-fighting-against-each-other-over-space-real-estate-359556">Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are fighting against each other over space real estate</a>

Assuming they lift-off as planned next month, Bezos and the other wannabe astronauts on Blue Origin's New Shepard spacecraft will not only spend several minutes 62 miles (100 km) above the earth in a truck-sized capsule, they also have to get back.

The only group that has regularly flown humans sub-orbitally since the 1960s is Branson's Virgin Galactic. All have been tests, with one failure in 2014 resulting in a death. Blue Origin has flown 15 unmanned sub-orbital flights with no failures, Seradata SpaceTrak data showed on June 10.

NASA and the US, in general, do not buy liability cover, with government launches basically insured by taxpayers, Richard Parker of Assure Space, a unit of insurer AmTrust Financial that provides space insurance, said.

NASA astronauts are eligible for government life insurance programs, a NASA spokesperson said in an emailed response.

Charles Wetton, underwriting manager for space policies at insurer Global Aerospace, said astronauts on government-funded missions are carefully selected for their knowledge, skills and fitness and train for several years before blast off.

"They and their families understand the risks of the work they do, Wetton said.

But commercial space cadets may only get a few days of training for a sub-orbital flight or a few months for a ride to the International Space Station (ISS), Wetton said, adding: "These represent two very different risk profiles that insurers will take into account".

Blue Origin on its website says the spaceflight passenger will receive training the day before the launch, including mission and vehicle overviews, safety briefings, mission simulation and instruction on in-flight activities.

Virgin Galactic said participants will get three days of training and preparation before the launch.

Insurers expect iron clad waivers and contracts from commercial space travel firms, stating they will bear no burden if a passenger dies during a flight.

NASA has called for responses from the industry for its plans for a liability framework for privately-funded astronaut missions to the ISS. NASA's plans include requiring private astronauts to buy life insurance.

It is still early days, but cover for space tourists may be the next step, said Tim Rush, senior vice president, US&nbsp;space, at insurance broker Gallagher, adding that the life insurance market currently provides individual cover of $2-5 million for private astronauts.

The only mandatory insurance in place for commercial space operators is third-party liability, mainly to cover property damage on earth or to a flying aircraft, said Akiko Hama, client executive, space and aerospace underwriting at Global Aerospace.

Blue Origin plans for its six-seater spacecraft to take off on July 20 and fly for four minutes beyond the boundary between the earth's atmosphere and outer space, where passengers will experience total weightlessness.

A key question for how the sector develops is whether risks related to tourism fall under space or aviation insurance lines.

The UN&nbsp;Outer Space Treaty and the Liability Convention of 1972 governs all activities in space and very few countries have a legal framework for commercial human spaceflight, they said.

The first-ever aviation insurance policy was written by Lloyd's of London in 1911. A few years later the market insured Charles Lindbergh and his single-engine plane for $18,000 on its non-stop flight from the United States to Europe.

Space trips are different, said Marsh's Stevens, because the passengers are returning to the same place as they left, making it technically a domestic trip to which international aviation insurance cannot be applied, meaning there will also be no limitation to liability.

"The aviation, aircraft insurance market, and the like, are less keen to take on risks that involve spacecraft," he said, adding that whether space tourism trips fall under aviation or space insurance is a "million dollar question".

While air travel is governed by rules that establish airline liability in the case of death of passengers, Stevens said he was unaware of plans for similar rules for space tourism.

However, Wetton said Global Aerospace had started to receive enquiries from companies for sub-orbital missions.

"In 10 years' time, maybe the two lines, aviation and spaceflight will look very similar," said Assure Space's Parker.

"Some legislative somewhere will say, look, we're now having average Joes flying on these launch vehicles and need to protect them," Parker added.

(With inputs from agencies)

Insurers are not ready to price the risk of losing Jeff Bezos or his fellow space travelers as launching one of the richest individuals on earth into orbit has proved a leap too far for them.

Insurers are not ready to price the risk of losing Jeff Bezos or his fellow space travelers as launching one of the richest individuals on earth into orbit has proved a leap too far for them. Amazon CEO Bezos, a lifelong space enthusiast, has been vying with Elon Musk and Richard Branson to become the first billionaire to fly beyond the earth's atmosphere. And while insurers are well known for offering cover for even the most outlandish of risks, at a price, potential accidents in space are not yet among them. According to Insurance Information Institute (III) spokesperson Michael Barry, "Space tourism involves significant risk, but is not an issue life insurers specifically ask about as yet because it is so rare for anyone to travel into space.'' There is a nearly $500 million market to insure satellites, rockets and unmanned space flight, but no legal requirement for an operator such as Blue Origin, which Bezos founded, to insure passengers for injury or death or for space tourists to have life cover, brokers and insurers said. "We're not aware of a case where anybody is insured against passenger liability," said Neil Stevens, senior vice president, aviation and space at Marsh, the world's biggest insurance broker. Also read| Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are fighting against each other over space real estate Assuming they lift-off as planned next month, Bezos and the other wannabe astronauts on Blue Origin's New Shepard spacecraft will not only spend several minutes 62 miles (100 km) above the earth in a truck-sized capsule, they also have to get back. The only group that has regularly flown humans sub-orbitally since the 1960s is Branson's Virgin Galactic. All have been tests, with one failure in 2014 resulting in a death. Blue Origin has flown 15 unmanned sub-orbital flights with no failures, Seradata SpaceTrak data showed on June 10. NASA and the US, in general, do not buy liability cover, with government launches basically insured by taxpayers, Richard Parker of Assure Space, a unit of insurer AmTrust Financial that provides space insurance, said. NASA astronauts are eligible for government life insurance programs, a NASA spokesperson said in an emailed response. Charles Wetton, underwriting manager for space policies at insurer Global Aerospace, said astronauts on government-funded missions are carefully selected for their knowledge, skills and fitness and train for several years before blast off. "They and their families understand the risks of the work they do, Wetton said. But commercial space cadets may only get a few days of training for a sub-orbital flight or a few months for a ride to the International Space Station (ISS), Wetton said, adding: "These represent two very different risk profiles that insurers will take into account". Blue Origin on its website says the spaceflight passenger will receive training the day before the launch, including mission and vehicle overviews, safety briefings, mission simulation and instruction on in-flight activities. Virgin Galactic said participants will get three days of training and preparation before the launch. Insurers expect iron clad waivers and contracts from commercial space travel firms, stating they will bear no burden if a passenger dies during a flight. NASA has called for responses from the industry for its plans for a liability framework for privately-funded astronaut missions to the ISS. NASA's plans include requiring private astronauts to buy life insurance. It is still early days, but cover for space tourists may be the next step, said Tim Rush, senior vice president, US space, at insurance broker Gallagher, adding that the life insurance market currently provides individual cover of $2-5 million for private astronauts. The only mandatory insurance in place for commercial space operators is third-party liability, mainly to cover property damage on earth or to a flying aircraft, said Akiko Hama, client executive, space and aerospace underwriting at Global Aerospace. Blue Origin plans for its six-seater spacecraft to take off on July 20 and fly for four minutes beyond the boundary between the earth's atmosphere and outer space, where passengers will experience total weightlessness. A key question for how the sector develops is whether risks related to tourism fall under space or aviation insurance lines. The UN Outer Space Treaty and the Liability Convention of 1972 governs all activities in space and very few countries have a legal framework for commercial human spaceflight, they said. The first-ever aviation insurance policy was written by Lloyd's of London in 1911. A few years later the market insured Charles Lindbergh and his single-engine plane for $18,000 on its non-stop flight from the United States to Europe. Space trips are different, said Marsh's Stevens, because the passengers are returning to the same place as they left, making it technically a domestic trip to which international aviation insurance cannot be applied, meaning there will also be no limitation to liability. "The aviation, aircraft insurance market, and the like, are less keen to take on risks that involve spacecraft," he said, adding that whether space tourism trips fall under aviation or space insurance is a "million dollar question". While air travel is governed by rules that establish airline liability in the case of death of passengers, Stevens said he was unaware of plans for similar rules for space tourism. However, Wetton said Global Aerospace had started to receive enquiries from companies for sub-orbital missions. "In 10 years' time, maybe the two lines, aviation and spaceflight will look very similar," said Assure Space's Parker. "Some legislative somewhere will say, look, we're now having average Joes flying on these launch vehicles and need to protect them," Parker added. (With inputs from agencies)

Why are insurance companies not ready to price risk of losing Jeff Bezos in space?

Billionaire Richard Branson’s&nbsp;Virgin&nbsp;Orbit&nbsp;reached space on Sunday, eight months after the first demonstration flight of its air-launched rocket system failed, the company said.

The Long Beach, California-based company’s LauncherOne rocket successfully deployed 10&nbsp;tiny satellites in orbit for NASA.

The launch occurred after the Boeing 747-400 took off from Mojave Air and Space Port in the desert north of Los Angeles and flew out over the Pacific Ocean to a drop point beyond the Channel Islands.

"According to telemetry, LauncherOne has reached orbit!" the company announced on Twitter during the test mission, dubbed Launch Demo 2. "In both a literal and figurative sense, this is miles beyond how far we reached in our first Launch Demo."

The rocket, a 70-foot launcher tailored for carrying small satellites to space, aimed to place 10 tiny satellites in orbit for NASA roughly two hours into the mission, though&nbsp;Virgin&nbsp;Orbit had not confirmed whether they were deployed as planned.

The successful test and clean payload deployment was a needed double-win for&nbsp;Virgin&nbsp;Orbit, which last year failed its attempt to reach space when LauncherOne’s main engine shut down prematurely moments after releasing from its carrier aircraft. The shortened mission generated key test data for the company, it said.

Sunday’s test also thrusts&nbsp;Virgin&nbsp;Orbit into an increasingly competitive commercial space race, offering a unique “air-launch” method of sending satellites to orbit alongside rivals such as Rocket Lab and Firefly Aerospace, which have designed small-launch systems to inject smaller satellites into orbit and meet growing demand.

Virgin&nbsp;executives say high-altitude launches allow satellites to be placed in their intended orbit more efficiently and also minimize weather-related cancellations compared to more traditional rockets launched vertically from a ground pad.

Virgin&nbsp;Orbit’s government services subsidiary VOX Space LLC is selling launches using the system to the US&nbsp;military, with a first mission slated for October under a $35 million US&nbsp;Space Force contract for three missions.

&nbsp;

Billionaire Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit reached space on Sunday, eight months after the first demonstration flight of its air-launched rocket system failed, the company said.

Billionaire Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit reached space on Sunday, eight months after the first demonstration flight of its air-launched rocket system failed, the company said. The Long Beach, California-based company’s LauncherOne rocket successfully deployed 10 tiny satellites in orbit for NASA. The launch occurred after the Boeing 747-400 took off from Mojave Air and Space Port in the desert north of Los Angeles and flew out over the Pacific Ocean to a drop point beyond the Channel Islands. "According to telemetry, LauncherOne has reached orbit!" the company announced on Twitter during the test mission, dubbed Launch Demo 2. "In both a literal and figurative sense, this is miles beyond how far we reached in our first Launch Demo." The rocket, a 70-foot launcher tailored for carrying small satellites to space, aimed to place 10 tiny satellites in orbit for NASA roughly two hours into the mission, though Virgin Orbit had not confirmed whether they were deployed as planned. The successful test and clean payload deployment was a needed double-win for Virgin Orbit, which last year failed its attempt to reach space when LauncherOne’s main engine shut down prematurely moments after releasing from its carrier aircraft. The shortened mission generated key test data for the company, it said. Sunday’s test also thrusts Virgin Orbit into an increasingly competitive commercial space race, offering a unique “air-launch” method of sending satellites to orbit alongside rivals such as Rocket Lab and Firefly Aerospace, which have designed small-launch systems to inject smaller satellites into orbit and meet growing demand. Virgin executives say high-altitude launches allow satellites to be placed in their intended orbit more efficiently and also minimize weather-related cancellations compared to more traditional rockets launched vertically from a ground pad. Virgin Orbit’s government services subsidiary VOX Space LLC is selling launches using the system to the US military, with a first mission slated for October under a $35 million US Space Force contract for three missions.

Virgin Galactic launches 10 satellites to orbit in landmark test flight

Richard Branson's Virgin&nbsp;Hyperloop&nbsp;has completed the world's first passenger ride on a super-high-speed levitating pod system, the company said on Sunday, a key safety test for technology it hopes will transform human and cargo transportation.

Virgin&nbsp;Hyperloop&nbsp;executives Josh Giegel, its Chief Technology Officer, and Sara Luchian, Director of Passenger Experience, reached speeds of up to 107 miles per hour (172 km per hour) at the company's DevLoop test site in Las Vegas, Nevada, the company said.

"I had the true pleasure of seeing history made before my very eyes," said Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of Virgin&nbsp;Hyperloop&nbsp;and Group Chairman and Chief Executive of DP World.

Los Angeles-based&nbsp;Hyperloop&nbsp;envisions a future where floating pods packed with passengers and cargo hurtle through vacuum tubes at 600 miles an hour (966 kph) or faster.

In a&nbsp;hyperloop&nbsp;system, which uses magnetic levitation to allow near-silent travel, a trip between New York and Washington would take just 30 minutes. That would be twice as fast as a commercial jet flight and four times faster than a high-speed train.

The company has previously run over 400 tests without human passengers at the Nevada site.

The test comes a month after Reuters first reported that Virgin&nbsp;Hyperloop&nbsp;picked the U.S. state of West Virginia to host a $500 million certification center and test track that will serve as a proving ground for its technology.

The company is working toward safety certification by 2025 and commercial operations by 2030, it has said.

Canada's Transpod and Spain's Zeleros also aim to upend traditional passenger and freight networks with similar technology they say will slash travel times, congestion, and environmental harm linked with petroleum-fueled machines.

Richard Branson's Virgin Hyperloop has completed the world's first passenger ride on a super-high-speed levitating pod system, the company said on Sunday, a key safety test for technology it hopes will transform human and cargo transportation.

Richard Branson's Virgin Hyperloop has completed the world's first passenger ride on a super-high-speed levitating pod system, the company said on Sunday, a key safety test for technology it hopes will transform human and cargo transportation. Virgin Hyperloop executives Josh Giegel, its Chief Technology Officer, and Sara Luchian, Director of Passenger Experience, reached speeds of up to 107 miles per hour (172 km per hour) at the company's DevLoop test site in Las Vegas, Nevada, the company said. "I had the true pleasure of seeing history made before my very eyes," said Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of Virgin Hyperloop and Group Chairman and Chief Executive of DP World. Los Angeles-based Hyperloop envisions a future where floating pods packed with passengers and cargo hurtle through vacuum tubes at 600 miles an hour (966 kph) or faster. In a hyperloop system, which uses magnetic levitation to allow near-silent travel, a trip between New York and Washington would take just 30 minutes. That would be twice as fast as a commercial jet flight and four times faster than a high-speed train. The company has previously run over 400 tests without human passengers at the Nevada site. The test comes a month after Reuters first reported that Virgin Hyperloop picked the U.S. state of West Virginia to host a $500 million certification center and test track that will serve as a proving ground for its technology. The company is working toward safety certification by 2025 and commercial operations by 2030, it has said. Canada's Transpod and Spain's Zeleros also aim to upend traditional passenger and freight networks with similar technology they say will slash travel times, congestion, and environmental harm linked with petroleum-fueled machines.

Virgin Hyperloop completes first successful human passenger test

Venezuelan soldiers opened fire on indigenous people near the border with Brazil on Friday, killing two, as President Nicolas Maduro sought to block US-backed efforts to bring aid into his economically devastated nation.

The United States, which is among dozens of nations to recognize <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/venezuelas-opposition-leader-guaido-defies-travel-ban-as-aid-row-turns-deadly-199076">opposition leader Juan Guaido</a> as Venezuela's legitimate president, has been stockpiling aid in the Colombian frontier town of Cucuta to ship across the border this weekend.

With tensions running high after Guaido invoked the constitution to declare an interim presidency last month, Maduro has denied there is a humanitarian crisis in Venezuela despite widespread shortages of food and medicine and hyperinflation.

He says the opposition efforts are a US-backed "cheap show".

The socialist president, who took power in 2013 and was re-elected in an election last year widely viewed as fraudulent, has declared Venezuela's southern border with Brazil closed ahead of the opposition's plan to bring in the aid on Saturday. Late on Friday, the government shuttered the Tachira frontier that connects with Cucuta.

Some political analysts say the looming showdown is less about solving Venezuela's needs and more about testing the military's loyalty to Maduro by daring it to turn the aid away.

With inflation running at more than 2 million per cent a year and currency controls restricting imports of basic goods, a growing share of the country's roughly 30 million people is suffering from malnutrition.

Guaido showed up late on Friday at a fundraising concert in Cucuta backed by British billionaire Richard Branson that was estimated to have attracted nearly 200,000 people.

His appearance, arm-in-arm with Colombian President Ivan Duque, was an open challenge to Maduro given that the pro-government Supreme Court has banned him from international travel on grounds he is under investigation for allegedly helping foreign countries to interfere in internal matters.

SOLDIERS OPENED FIRE

Friday's violence broke out in the village of Kumarakapay in southern Venezuela after an indigenous community stopped a military convoy heading toward the border with Brazil that they believed was attempting to block aid, according to community leaders Richard Fernandez and Ricardo Delgado.

Soldiers later entered the village and opened fire, killing a couple and injuring several others, they said. A regional official confirmed that two people were killed.

"I stood up to them to back the humanitarian aid," Fernandez told Reuters. "And they came charging at us. They shot innocent people who were in their homes, working."

Seven of the 15 injured were rushed by ambulance to a hospital in the Brazilian frontier city of Boa Vista, a spokesman for the state governor's office said.

Diosdado Cabello, one of the most prominent figures in Maduro’s Socialist Party, accused the civilians involved in the clash of being "violent groups" directed by the opposition.

Venezuelan security forces have executed dozens and detained hundreds of others since protests broke out in January against Maduro's swearing-in, according to civil rights groups.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza in New York on Friday and "urged the Venezuelan authorities not to use lethal force against demonstrators," spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Asked about the deaths, Arreaza told reporters the armed forces would never take disproportionate action against its own people: "Our armed forces are known for their humanism."

The U.S. special envoy for Venezuela, who joined regional leaders and diplomats in Cucuta to show support for the opposition, called the killings "a crime and a disgrace".

"What do we do if the government of Maduro, the former government of Maduro, does not fall tomorrow?" Elliott Abrams said after meeting the presidents of Paraguay and Chile and the secretary-general of the Organization of American States.

"We continue trying to bring humanitarian aid to the people of Venezuela."

China, which along with Russia backs Maduro, warned that humanitarian aid should not be forced across the border because doing so could lead to violence.

BLOODSHED 'NOT IN VAIN'

The bloodshed contrasted with a joyful mood at Branson's "Venezuela Aid Live", where Venezuelan and Colombian attendees, some crying, waved flags and chanted "freedom" under a baking sun.

"Is it too much to ask for freedom after 20 years of ignominy, of a populist Marxist dictatorship?" Venezuelan singer Jose Luis "El Puma" Rodríguez asked. "To the Venezuelans there, don't give up: the blood that has been spilt was not in vain".

Earlier in the day, Branson held a news conference near a never-used border bridge that Venezuelan authorities have blocked with shipping containers.

"What we're hoping is that the authorities in Venezuela will see this wonderful, peaceful concert ... and that the soldiers will do that right thing," Branson said.

As well as the foreign aid stockpiled in Cucuta, Guaido has vowed to bring in aid on Saturday from the Brazilian town of Boa Vista and the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao.

"The people of Venezuela are not begging, they’re resisting a dictatorship, the onslaught of oppression," Guaido told a news conference in Cucuta after the concert. "Tomorrow ... everyone will be on the streets demanding the entry of humanitarian aid, thanking the world for this unprecedented coalition."

Brazil said on Friday it had 200 tonnes of food and medicine ready for Venezuela but only one truck had arrived to pick it up before the border was closed.

Venezuela's borders are porous, however, and supporters could attempt to bring in aid outside the official entry points.

Guaido's move to assume the interim presidency and international backing has galvanized Venezuela's opposition, which has vowed to keep protesting until Maduro steps down. Major protests in 2014 and 2017 waned in the face of crackdowns.

Some government critics are concerned it will take more than the pressure to force Maduro to step down.

"The truth is that not even 10 concerts will make damned Maduro leave office," said Darwin Rendon, one of the 3.4 million Venezuelans to have emigrated since 2015 to find work. He sends what little he earns selling cigarettes to his family in Caracas. "This regime is difficult to remove."

Venezuelan soldiers opened fire on indigenous people near the border with Brazil on Friday, killing two, as President Nicolas Maduro sought to block US-backed efforts to bring aid into his economically devastated nation.

Venezuelan soldiers opened fire on indigenous people near the border with Brazil on Friday, killing two, as President Nicolas Maduro sought to block US-backed efforts to bring aid into his economically devastated nation. The United States, which is among dozens of nations to recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate president, has been stockpiling aid in the Colombian frontier town of Cucuta to ship across the border this weekend. With tensions running high after Guaido invoked the constitution to declare an interim presidency last month, Maduro has denied there is a humanitarian crisis in Venezuela despite widespread shortages of food and medicine and hyperinflation. He says the opposition efforts are a US-backed "cheap show". The socialist president, who took power in 2013 and was re-elected in an election last year widely viewed as fraudulent, has declared Venezuela's southern border with Brazil closed ahead of the opposition's plan to bring in the aid on Saturday. Late on Friday, the government shuttered the Tachira frontier that connects with Cucuta. Some political analysts say the looming showdown is less about solving Venezuela's needs and more about testing the military's loyalty to Maduro by daring it to turn the aid away. With inflation running at more than 2 million per cent a year and currency controls restricting imports of basic goods, a growing share of the country's roughly 30 million people is suffering from malnutrition. Guaido showed up late on Friday at a fundraising concert in Cucuta backed by British billionaire Richard Branson that was estimated to have attracted nearly 200,000 people. His appearance, arm-in-arm with Colombian President Ivan Duque, was an open challenge to Maduro given that the pro-government Supreme Court has banned him from international travel on grounds he is under investigation for allegedly helping foreign countries to interfere in internal matters. SOLDIERS OPENED FIRE Friday's violence broke out in the village of Kumarakapay in southern Venezuela after an indigenous community stopped a military convoy heading toward the border with Brazil that they believed was attempting to block aid, according to community leaders Richard Fernandez and Ricardo Delgado. Soldiers later entered the village and opened fire, killing a couple and injuring several others, they said. A regional official confirmed that two people were killed. "I stood up to them to back the humanitarian aid," Fernandez told Reuters. "And they came charging at us. They shot innocent people who were in their homes, working." Seven of the 15 injured were rushed by ambulance to a hospital in the Brazilian frontier city of Boa Vista, a spokesman for the state governor's office said. Diosdado Cabello, one of the most prominent figures in Maduro’s Socialist Party, accused the civilians involved in the clash of being "violent groups" directed by the opposition. Venezuelan security forces have executed dozens and detained hundreds of others since protests broke out in January against Maduro's swearing-in, according to civil rights groups. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza in New York on Friday and "urged the Venezuelan authorities not to use lethal force against demonstrators," spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Asked about the deaths, Arreaza told reporters the armed forces would never take disproportionate action against its own people: "Our armed forces are known for their humanism." The U.S. special envoy for Venezuela, who joined regional leaders and diplomats in Cucuta to show support for the opposition, called the killings "a crime and a disgrace". "What do we do if the government of Maduro, the former government of Maduro, does not fall tomorrow?" Elliott Abrams said after meeting the presidents of Paraguay and Chile and the secretary-general of the Organization of American States. "We continue trying to bring humanitarian aid to the people of Venezuela." China, which along with Russia backs Maduro, warned that humanitarian aid should not be forced across the border because doing so could lead to violence. BLOODSHED 'NOT IN VAIN' The bloodshed contrasted with a joyful mood at Branson's "Venezuela Aid Live", where Venezuelan and Colombian attendees, some crying, waved flags and chanted "freedom" under a baking sun. "Is it too much to ask for freedom after 20 years of ignominy, of a populist Marxist dictatorship?" Venezuelan singer Jose Luis "El Puma" Rodríguez asked. "To the Venezuelans there, don't give up: the blood that has been spilt was not in vain". Earlier in the day, Branson held a news conference near a never-used border bridge that Venezuelan authorities have blocked with shipping containers. "What we're hoping is that the authorities in Venezuela will see this wonderful, peaceful concert ... and that the soldiers will do that right thing," Branson said. As well as the foreign aid stockpiled in Cucuta, Guaido has vowed to bring in aid on Saturday from the Brazilian town of Boa Vista and the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao. "The people of Venezuela are not begging, they’re resisting a dictatorship, the onslaught of oppression," Guaido told a news conference in Cucuta after the concert. "Tomorrow ... everyone will be on the streets demanding the entry of humanitarian aid, thanking the world for this unprecedented coalition." Brazil said on Friday it had 200 tonnes of food and medicine ready for Venezuela but only one truck had arrived to pick it up before the border was closed. Venezuela's borders are porous, however, and supporters could attempt to bring in aid outside the official entry points. Guaido's move to assume the interim presidency and international backing has galvanized Venezuela's opposition, which has vowed to keep protesting until Maduro steps down. Major protests in 2014 and 2017 waned in the face of crackdowns. Some government critics are concerned it will take more than the pressure to force Maduro to step down. "The truth is that not even 10 concerts will make damned Maduro leave office," said Darwin Rendon, one of the 3.4 million Venezuelans to have emigrated since 2015 to find work. He sends what little he earns selling cigarettes to his family in Caracas. "This regime is difficult to remove."

As tensions over aid rise, Venezuelan troops fire on villagers, two dead

Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson on Wednesday said he hopes a concert in Colombia aimed at raising money for crisis-wracked Venezuela will encourage the country's soldiers to defy orders from President Nicolas Maduro and let humanitarian aid cross the border.

Some 250,000 people are expected at Friday's concert in the Colombian border town of Cucuta that organisers say will raise about $100 million to buy food and medicine for Venezuelans suffering widespread shortages.

Branson, who is backing the show, dubbed "Venezuela Aid Live," told Reuters he expects money to flow in from many countries if the Tienditas Bridge crossing from Colombia to Venezuela can be opened.

"I think that if we can persuade the soldiers to open the bridge, that's the ideal outcome from this concert," he said in an interview via satellite link from the Mojave Air and Space Port in California. "That will then mean that people who are dying from cancer because they're not getting the right pills or other illnesses, they will be able to get help medical help."

The United States and scores of other countries have openly backed Maduro's rival, opposition leader and Congress chief Juan Guaido, who last month invoked constitutional provisions to declare himself interim president.

The opposition plans to send aid into Venezuela on Saturday from collection points in neighbouring countries including Colombia via sea and land, despite Maduro's refusal to let it in, setting up a possible clash with authorities.

Maduro, who is facing growing international pressure to step down after his disputed re-election last year, denies there is a humanitarian crisis and has blocked the bridge leading from Colombia to prevent aid getting through.

The presidents of Colombia and Chile have publicly said they will attend the free concert, which has evoked comparisons to Irish rock star Bob Geldof's 1985 global "Live Aid" concert to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia.

Two other world leaders may attend, organizer Fernan Ocampo told reporters in Cucuta earlier on Wednesday, without naming them.

"We've got quite a few presidents from South America coming to the concert who have pledged to put a considerable amount of supplies into Venezuela once we can get the bridges opened," he said.

The event will feature performances from at least 35 artists including Alejandro Sanz, Maluma, Luis Fonsi and Carlos Vives.

While still unclear how the aid will get across the border, Branson said 1 million people are expected on the Venezuelan side of the bridge, led by Guaido, to distribute the aid.

Branson also responded to comments made on Tuesday by Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters, who criticized the concert as a U.S.-backed effort to tarnish Maduro's socialist government, saying there was “no mayhem, no murder, no apparent dictatorship” in Venezuela.

"I don't think that Roger Waters is the best expert when it comes to what's going on in Venezuela. He says that it's a democracy, people are not suffering, and it's just not true," Branson said. "Anybody who knows anything about Venezuela should know that that is a load of a rubbish and Venezuelans need help."

Donations to the event will be received online and via direct deposits.

Hundreds of tonnes of humanitarian aid from the United States and other countries are being stored in warehouses in Cucuta.

Maduro is planning rival concerts on the Venezuelan side of the border on Friday, and the Venezuelan government says it will distribute aid to poor Colombians.

Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson on Wednesday said he hopes a concert in Colombia aimed at raising money for crisis-wracked Venezuela will encourage the country's soldiers to defy orders from President Nicolas Maduro and let humanitarian aid cross the border.

Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson on Wednesday said he hopes a concert in Colombia aimed at raising money for crisis-wracked Venezuela will encourage the country's soldiers to defy orders from President Nicolas Maduro and let humanitarian aid cross the border. Some 250,000 people are expected at Friday's concert in the Colombian border town of Cucuta that organisers say will raise about $100 million to buy food and medicine for Venezuelans suffering widespread shortages. Branson, who is backing the show, dubbed "Venezuela Aid Live," told Reuters he expects money to flow in from many countries if the Tienditas Bridge crossing from Colombia to Venezuela can be opened. "I think that if we can persuade the soldiers to open the bridge, that's the ideal outcome from this concert," he said in an interview via satellite link from the Mojave Air and Space Port in California. "That will then mean that people who are dying from cancer because they're not getting the right pills or other illnesses, they will be able to get help medical help." The United States and scores of other countries have openly backed Maduro's rival, opposition leader and Congress chief Juan Guaido, who last month invoked constitutional provisions to declare himself interim president. The opposition plans to send aid into Venezuela on Saturday from collection points in neighbouring countries including Colombia via sea and land, despite Maduro's refusal to let it in, setting up a possible clash with authorities. Maduro, who is facing growing international pressure to step down after his disputed re-election last year, denies there is a humanitarian crisis and has blocked the bridge leading from Colombia to prevent aid getting through. The presidents of Colombia and Chile have publicly said they will attend the free concert, which has evoked comparisons to Irish rock star Bob Geldof's 1985 global "Live Aid" concert to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. Two other world leaders may attend, organizer Fernan Ocampo told reporters in Cucuta earlier on Wednesday, without naming them. "We've got quite a few presidents from South America coming to the concert who have pledged to put a considerable amount of supplies into Venezuela once we can get the bridges opened," he said. The event will feature performances from at least 35 artists including Alejandro Sanz, Maluma, Luis Fonsi and Carlos Vives. While still unclear how the aid will get across the border, Branson said 1 million people are expected on the Venezuelan side of the bridge, led by Guaido, to distribute the aid. Branson also responded to comments made on Tuesday by Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters, who criticized the concert as a U.S.-backed effort to tarnish Maduro's socialist government, saying there was “no mayhem, no murder, no apparent dictatorship” in Venezuela. "I don't think that Roger Waters is the best expert when it comes to what's going on in Venezuela. He says that it's a democracy, people are not suffering, and it's just not true," Branson said. "Anybody who knows anything about Venezuela should know that that is a load of a rubbish and Venezuelans need help." Donations to the event will be received online and via direct deposits. Hundreds of tonnes of humanitarian aid from the United States and other countries are being stored in warehouses in Cucuta. Maduro is planning rival concerts on the Venezuelan side of the border on Friday, and the Venezuelan government says it will distribute aid to poor Colombians.

Billionaire Richard Branson hopes aid concert opens Venezuela's borders

British billionaire Richard Branson plans to travel to space within the next four or five months aboard his own Virgin Galactic spaceship, he told AFP Thursday.&nbsp;

"My wish is to go up on the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, that's what we're working on," the head of the Virgin group said on the sidelines of an event to honor Virgin Galactic at the Air and Space Museum in Washington.&nbsp;

The American Apollo 11 mission landed on the moon July 20, 1969.

Virgin Galactic is one of two companies, along with Blue Origin, on its way to sending passengers into space -- though just barely, and just for a few minutes.&nbsp;

The companies want to send hundreds or thousands of people on these short "suborbital" flights, meaning they wouldn't get high enough to orbit the earth.&nbsp;

These missions would be shorter and more affordable than SpaceX's planned project to send a Japanese billionaire to the moon by 2023 at the earliest.&nbsp;

Virgin Galactic flew 50 miles (80 km) above the earth, which the US considers the edge of space, for the first time in December (the international consensus is 100 km).&nbsp;

Virgin Galactic's spaceship, called SpaceShipTwo, is commanded by two pilots.&nbsp;

To take off, it's dropped by a carrier plane like a bomb, then starts its own engine to jet off straight into the sky, eventually climbing high enough to see the curvature of the earth.&nbsp;

The craft hovers and descends naturally, gliding back towards its original departure point, Mojave Air and Space Port in California.

It will be able to carry six passengers along with its two pilots.&nbsp;

Branson has previously announced dates for this first trip into space, though they've always come and gone without the voyage happening.

But this time the businessman claims preparations are in their final stages.&nbsp;

"By July we should have done enough testing," he said.&nbsp;

But he doesn't want to make any promises he can't keep: "I need to wait for our team to say they're 100% happy. I don't want to push them," he said, but thinks they'll be ready for clients by the end of the year.&nbsp;

He told AFP Virgin Galactic costs him $35 million a month; previously, he said he had invested more than a billion dollars in the venture since the 2000s.

According to Branson, the SpaceShipTwo's next test flight is planned for February 20, depending on weather conditions.&nbsp;

British billionaire Richard Branson plans to travel to space within the next four or five months aboard his own Virgin Galactic spaceship, he told AFP Thursday. "My wish is to go up on the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, that's what we're working on," the head of the Virgin group said on the sidelines of an event to honor Virgin Galactic at the Air and Space Museum in Washington.

British billionaire Richard Branson plans to travel to space within the next four or five months aboard his own Virgin Galactic spaceship, he told AFP Thursday. "My wish is to go up on the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, that's what we're working on," the head of the Virgin group said on the sidelines of an event to honor Virgin Galactic at the Air and Space Museum in Washington. The American Apollo 11 mission landed on the moon July 20, 1969. Virgin Galactic is one of two companies, along with Blue Origin, on its way to sending passengers into space -- though just barely, and just for a few minutes. The companies want to send hundreds or thousands of people on these short "suborbital" flights, meaning they wouldn't get high enough to orbit the earth. These missions would be shorter and more affordable than SpaceX's planned project to send a Japanese billionaire to the moon by 2023 at the earliest. Virgin Galactic flew 50 miles (80 km) above the earth, which the US considers the edge of space, for the first time in December (the international consensus is 100 km). Virgin Galactic's spaceship, called SpaceShipTwo, is commanded by two pilots. To take off, it's dropped by a carrier plane like a bomb, then starts its own engine to jet off straight into the sky, eventually climbing high enough to see the curvature of the earth. The craft hovers and descends naturally, gliding back towards its original departure point, Mojave Air and Space Port in California. It will be able to carry six passengers along with its two pilots. Branson has previously announced dates for this first trip into space, though they've always come and gone without the voyage happening. But this time the businessman claims preparations are in their final stages. "By July we should have done enough testing," he said. But he doesn't want to make any promises he can't keep: "I need to wait for our team to say they're 100% happy. I don't want to push them," he said, but thinks they'll be ready for clients by the end of the year. He told AFP Virgin Galactic costs him $35 million a month; previously, he said he had invested more than a billion dollars in the venture since the 2000s. According to Branson, the SpaceShipTwo's next test flight is planned for February 20, depending on weather conditions.

Virgin Group's Richard Branson says he'll fly to space by July

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo reaches space for first time

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/virgin-galactics-saceshiptwo-takes-off-is-now-heading-for-space-183841">Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo</a>, VSS Unity, flew higher than it ever has before on Thursday, surpassing what the US Air Force considers the boundary of space, and marking the first manned flight to space from US soil since 2011.

''Today really has been out of this world. It's a thumbs up for our astronauts,'' Richard Branson said.

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Today really has been out of this world. It's a thumbs up for our astronauts from <a href="https://twitter.com/richardbranson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@richardbranson</a>! Read more about today's historic space flight here <a href="https://t.co/UfG2FhOaSh">https://t.co/UfG2FhOaSh</a> <a href="https://t.co/GYZXEUIHh9">pic.twitter.com/GYZXEUIHh9</a>
— Virgin Galactic (@virgingalactic) <a href="https://twitter.com/virgingalactic/status/1073394476771463168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

<img alt="Virgin Galactic" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9ef9a120-d577-45d3-a2e1-aeeb81c1086e" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%284%29_0.jpg" />

The brief, suborbital flight -- with two pilots on board -- was a key milestone for the company headed by British tycoon Richard Branson, who is striving to send tourists to space at a cost of $250,000 per seat.

No spacecraft with people on board has taken off from US soil since the American space shuttle program ended, as scheduled, seven years ago.

"Today, for the first time in history, a crewed spaceship, built to carry private passengers, reached space," Branson said in a statement afterward.

"This is a momentous day and I could not be more proud of our teams who together have opened a new chapter of space exploration."

Virgin Galactic's spaceship did not launch on a rocket but took off attached to an airplane from Mojave, California.

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo, VSS Unity, flew higher than it ever has before on Thursday, surpassing what the US Air Force considers the boundary of space, and marking the first manned flight to space from US soil since 2011.

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo, VSS Unity, flew higher than it ever has before on Thursday, surpassing what the US Air Force considers the boundary of space, and marking the first manned flight to space from US soil since 2011. ''Today really has been out of this world. It's a thumbs up for our astronauts,'' Richard Branson said. Today really has been out of this world. It's a thumbs up for our astronauts from @richardbranson! Read more about today's historic space flight here https://t.co/UfG2FhOaSh pic.twitter.com/GYZXEUIHh9 — Virgin Galactic (@virgingalactic) December 14, 2018 × The brief, suborbital flight -- with two pilots on board -- was a key milestone for the company headed by British tycoon Richard Branson, who is striving to send tourists to space at a cost of $250,000 per seat. No spacecraft with people on board has taken off from US soil since the American space shuttle program ended, as scheduled, seven years ago. "Today, for the first time in history, a crewed spaceship, built to carry private passengers, reached space," Branson said in a statement afterward. "This is a momentous day and I could not be more proud of our teams who together have opened a new chapter of space exploration." Virgin Galactic's spaceship did not launch on a rocket but took off attached to an airplane from Mojave, California.

Thumbs up for astronauts: Branson on Virgin Galactic's voyage into space

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/americas/imf-cuts-chinas-growth-rate-on-negative-effect-of-tariff-actions-170439">IMF cuts China's growth rate on 'negative effect of tariff actions'</a>

As the Trump administration turns the heat on China in the trade war, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) cut China's growth citing "negative effect of recent tariff actions".

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-seeks-thorough-probe-into-disappearance-of-saudi-journalist-khashoggi-170443">US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-seeks-thorough-probe-into-disappearance-of-saudi-journalist-khashoggi-170443"> seeks thorough probe into </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-seeks-thorough-probe-into-disappearance-of-saudi-journalist-khashoggi-170443">disappearance</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-seeks-thorough-probe-into-disappearance-of-saudi-journalist-khashoggi-170443"> of Saudi Journalist Khashoggi&nbsp;</a>

The US has sought a thorough and transparent investigation into the disappearance of a prominent Saudi journalist after President Donald Trump expressed concern over the scribe's whereabouts.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/europe/virgin-galatic-space-flight-within-weeks-not-months-richard-branson-170480">Virgin Galatic space flight within weeks, not months: Richard Branson</a>

Virgin Galatic owner and British entrepreneur Richard Branson said he expects his rocket company to launch a space flight "within weeks, not months".

"We will be in space with people not too long after that," he added.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/alok-nath-reacts-on-rape-allegations-made-by-tv-writer-says-it-was-me-who-made-her-what-she-is-170409">Alok Nath responds to rape allegations, says 'It was me who made her what she is'</a>

Actor Alok Nath, who has been accused of raping senior TV writer-director Vinta Nanda, responded to the allegations on Tuesday with an ambiguous answer.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/suicide-bomber-kills-eight-at-afghan-election-rally-official-170465">Suicide bomber kills eight at Afghan election rally, including candidate</a>

A suicide bomber killed eight people in Afghanistan's southern province of Helmand on Tuesday, including a candidate in upcoming parliamentary elections, the latest in a series of deadly attacks targeting the vote, officials said.

IMF cuts China's growth rate on 'negative effect of tariff actions' As the Trump administration turns the heat on China in the trade war, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) cut China's growth citing "negative effect of recent tariff actions".

IMF cuts China's growth rate on 'negative effect of tariff actions' As the Trump administration turns the heat on China in the trade war, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) cut China's growth citing "negative effect of recent tariff actions". US seeks thorough probe into disappearance of Saudi Journalist Khashoggi The US has sought a thorough and transparent investigation into the disappearance of a prominent Saudi journalist after President Donald Trump expressed concern over the scribe's whereabouts. Virgin Galatic space flight within weeks, not months: Richard Branson Virgin Galatic owner and British entrepreneur Richard Branson said he expects his rocket company to launch a space flight "within weeks, not months". "We will be in space with people not too long after that," he added. Alok Nath responds to rape allegations, says 'It was me who made her what she is' Actor Alok Nath, who has been accused of raping senior TV writer-director Vinta Nanda, responded to the allegations on Tuesday with an ambiguous answer. Suicide bomber kills eight at Afghan election rally, including candidate A suicide bomber killed eight people in Afghanistan's southern province of Helmand on Tuesday, including a candidate in upcoming parliamentary elections, the latest in a series of deadly attacks targeting the vote, officials said.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Virgin Galatic owner and British entrepreneur Richard Branson said he expects his rocket company to launch a space flight "within weeks, not months".

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/japanese-billionaire-yusaku-maezawa-to-be-spacex-moon-traveller-166267">Also Read:&nbsp;Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa to be SpaceX Moon traveller</a>

"We will be in space with people not too long after that," he added.

Amazon owner Jeff Bezos had recently announced that his company Blue Origin is developing a rocket which will help man to land on the Moon in the next five years.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk had recently announced that his company would be sending Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa as a Moon tourist. Maezawa, 42, will become SpaceX's first Moon tourist. However, there were still no reports on the cost of the ticket.

Branson, on the other hand, said ticket to space on the Virgin Galactic would cost $250,000.

"If I have a room full of 10 people, eight out of 10 would love to go to space if they could afford it," he said. Branson said ultimately he hoped the price of the ticket would come down to $40,000 or $50,000 over the next decade.

American multimillionaire Dennis Tito who travelled to space in April, 2001 as the first tourist paid $20 million for his trip. Tito spent seven days in space.

Maezawa who is the owner of an online fashion mall had said he would be taking six to eight artists from around the world to his Moon journey. SpaceX had described the journey as "an important step toward enabling access for everyday people who dream of traveling to space."

Until now, Americans have been the only ones who have left Earth's orbit. A total of 24 NASA astronauts went to the Moon during the Apollo era of the 1960s and '70s. Twelve walked on the lunar surface.

Virgin Galatic owner and British entrepreneur Richard Branson said he expects his rocket company to launch a space flight "within weeks, not months". Also Read: Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa to be SpaceX Moon traveller "We will be in space with people not too long after that," he added.

Virgin Galatic owner and British entrepreneur Richard Branson said he expects his rocket company to launch a space flight "within weeks, not months". Also Read: Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa to be SpaceX Moon traveller "We will be in space with people not too long after that," he added. Amazon owner Jeff Bezos had recently announced that his company Blue Origin is developing a rocket which will help man to land on the Moon in the next five years. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk had recently announced that his company would be sending Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa as a Moon tourist. Maezawa, 42, will become SpaceX's first Moon tourist. However, there were still no reports on the cost of the ticket. Branson, on the other hand, said ticket to space on the Virgin Galactic would cost $250,000. "If I have a room full of 10 people, eight out of 10 would love to go to space if they could afford it," he said. Branson said ultimately he hoped the price of the ticket would come down to $40,000 or $50,000 over the next decade. American multimillionaire Dennis Tito who travelled to space in April, 2001 as the first tourist paid $20 million for his trip. Tito spent seven days in space. Maezawa who is the owner of an online fashion mall had said he would be taking six to eight artists from around the world to his Moon journey. SpaceX had described the journey as "an important step toward enabling access for everyday people who dream of traveling to space." Until now, Americans have been the only ones who have left Earth's orbit. A total of 24 NASA astronauts went to the Moon during the Apollo era of the 1960s and '70s. Twelve walked on the lunar surface.

Virgin Galatic space flight within weeks, not months: Richard Branson

Virgin group founder and CEO Richard Branson said he thought he was going to die as he recounted the accident he met with while cycling in the British Virgin Islands earlier this week. 
 
The accident happened when Branson was cycling with his children and hit a bump on a road, throwing his bike off a cliff.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;The next thing I knew, I was being hurled over the handlebars and my life was literally flashing before my eyes,&quot; the 66-year-old wrote in a blog post. 
 
Branson injured his cheeks and tore some ligaments.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;I really thought I was going to die,&quot; he said, &ldquo;But the helmet saved my life.&rdquo; 
 
Branson has experienced several such ill-fated incidents in the past. 
 
In 1998, Branson and his co-pilot had to ditch their balloon in the Pacific ocean after low pressure forced the craft down.&nbsp; 
 
An explosion in the Virgin Galactic space tourism venture&rsquo;s SpaceShipTwo in 2014 killed its co-pilot, giving a severe blow to Branson&#39;s project. 
 
Branson said in spite of his injuries, he will take part next month in the biking, hiking and running Virgin Strive Challenge that he was training for. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

The accident occurred when Richard Branson was cycling with his children and hit a bump on a road in the British Virgin Islands

Virgin group founder and CEO Richard Branson said he thought he was going to die as he recounted the accident he met with while cycling in the British Virgin Islands earlier this week. The accident happened when Branson was cycling with his children and hit a bump on a road, throwing his bike off a cliff. "The next thing I knew, I was being hurled over the handlebars and my life was literally flashing before my eyes," the 66-year-old wrote in a blog post. Branson injured his cheeks and tore some ligaments. "I really thought I was going to die," he said, “But the helmet saved my life.” Branson has experienced several such ill-fated incidents in the past. In 1998, Branson and his co-pilot had to ditch their balloon in the Pacific ocean after low pressure forced the craft down. An explosion in the Virgin Galactic space tourism venture’s SpaceShipTwo in 2014 killed its co-pilot, giving a severe blow to Branson's project. Branson said in spite of his injuries, he will take part next month in the biking, hiking and running Virgin Strive Challenge that he was training for. (WION with inputs from agencies)

I thought I was about to die, says Virgin CEO Branson after bike accident

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