Richard Branson calls space travel “experience of a lifetime”

British billionaire Richard Branson successfully completed his space travel on Sunday on his Virgin Galactic rocket plane.

Branson called the spaceflight the “complete experience of a lifetime.” After the landing he said, “I have dreamt of this moment since I was a kid, and honestly nothing could prepare you for the view of Earth from space.”

The spacecraft VSS Unity was launched above the skies of New Mexico with the company’s founder and three Virgin Galactic employees along with the two pilots. VSS Unity is capable of holding up to six passengers with two pilots.

“We’re here to make space more accessible to all at all,” Branson said after the flight. “The mission statement that I wrote inside my spacesuit was to turn the dream of space travel into a reality for my grandchildren ... and for many people who are alive today, for everybody.”

The spaceflight on Sunday was the fourth one to date for Virgin Galactic and second so far this year. Moreover, this was first one to carry more than one passenger.

The company is testing its spacecraft system focusing on to begin commercial service by early 2022.

Branson also announced that his company has partnered with sweepstakes company Omaze to offer two seats on the first commercial Virgin Galactic spaceflights.

(With inputs from CNBC)

Picture Credits: CNBC