Hyperdrive
Richard Branson Revives Daredevil Persona at 70 With Historic Space Shot
- Billionaire poised to fly July 11, nine days before Bezos trip
- Virgin Galactic test flight would be step toward space tourism
The Virgin Galactic Unity22 Crew.
Source: Virgin Galactic
Richard Branson’s rocket-powered trip to the edge of space on Sunday will mark a return to the daredevil exploits that first established the billionaire’s swashbuckling reputation.
For decades, Branson engaged in a series of record-breaking stunts in which he kite-surfed for 30 miles (48 kilometers) between England and France, crossed the Atlantic Ocean by speedboat in just three days and then spanned the Pacific in a hot-air balloon at speeds of as much as 245 miles per hour.