Virgin's space plane takes off with first customers

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Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic rocket plane has carried customers into space, in its first commercial flight.

The 90-minute mission was purchased for the Italian Air Force and the Italian National Research Council.

The unity vehicle climbed high over the New Mexico desert to the edge of space, before gliding back down to earth.

The mission took off from Spaceport America at around 0830 local time (1430 GMT) and was livestreamed around the world.

 

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Once the carrier aircraft reached around 50,000ft, the rocket was released from underneath and sent in a near-vertical climb to around 50 miles above Earth.

 

For those who want a ticket ? a mere $450,000 will secure your seat on the 90 minute flight.

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[Tug]

Awfully expensive ride!cool as heck tho!skys!

[scottiejohn]

12 minutes ago, Tug said:

Awfully expensive ride!cool as heck tho!skys!

Only "Awfully expensive" to us poor mortals!

To them it's only a trip to Tesco!