Photo / APRichard Branson is aiming to beat fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos into space by nine days. Branson's company Virgin Galactic announced Thursday evening (US time) that its next test flight will be July 11 and that its founder will be among the six people on board. The news came just hours after Bezos' Blue Origin said Bezos would be accompanied into space on July 20 by a female aerospace pioneer who's waited 60 years to rocket away. Flights by Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin last about 10 minutes, with three or so minutes of weightlessness. Photo / APFunk, at age 82, will become the oldest person to launch into space when Amazon's Blue Origin takes its turn.

Source: New Zealand Herald July 02, 2021 22:07 UTC