Richard Branson, Britain’s best-known entrepreneur and part-time daredevil, plans to launch the world’s first passenger service to space in 2007, offering zero-gravity flights for $198,600.
Branson, whose Virgin empire stretches from planes and trains to vodka, music and personal finance, is teaming up with Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen to build five, fish-shaped capsules for the two-to-three hour flights.
Virgin Galactic will be the latest offshoot of Branson’s business empire, which started in mail-order recorded music in the 1970s. It will invest $100 million in ground infrastructure and spacecraft capable of carrying five passengers.