<br><div><aside class="gnt_em gnt_em__fp gnt_em_vp__tp gnt_em__el" aria-label="Video - Virgin Galactic test flight reaches space"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Welcome to the space race, billionaire edition. Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Galactic, is set to <a target="_blank" href="/story/news/2021/07/01/richard-branson-virgin-galactic-beat-jeff-bezos-space-unity-22-flight-spaceport-america/7835014002/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">launch into space on Sunday</a>, weather and technical checks permitting.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">If the mission is successful, Branson will beat competitor Jeff Bezos, <a target="_blank" href="/story/money/2021/07/04/amazon-jeff-bezos-richest-person-retirement/7860826002/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">who recently stepped down as CEO of Amazon</a>, by days. Bezos' own rocket company, Blue Origin, plans to fly him to space on July 20.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Branson will launch from Sierra County in New Mexico and Bezos from a desert location north of Van Horn, Texas, which is over 100 miles east of El Paso.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Here's what we know about both space flights and the possible implications for commercial space travel.</p><h2 class="gnt_ar_b_h2">How to watch Branson's space flight </h2><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">A live stream of VSS Unity's flight is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. ET Sunday. It will be broadcast on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTpWYWIfP7Y" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">Virgin Galactic's website and social media platforms.</a> The<a target="_blank" href="https://www.lcsun-news.com/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a"><a target="_blank" href="/story/news/local/spaceport/2021/07/08/richard-branson-vss-unity-space-flight-bezos-new-shepard-launch-blue-origin-virgin-galatic/7892103002/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">Las Cruces Sun-News</a>, part of the USA TODAY Network, will also carry the stream online. </p><aside class="gnt_em gnt_em_vp gnt_em_vp__yt" data-g-r="vp_tp" data-c-vt="youtube" aria-label="YouTube video" aria-live="polite"><a target="_blank" class="gnt_em_vp_a gnt_em_vp__yt_a" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTpWYWIfP7Y" rel="nofollow noopener" data-g-r="vp_tg" data-c-vpattrs="{"videoId":"RTpWYWIfP7Y", "id":"7918000002"}" aria-label="Play YouTube video"><img alt="" class="gnt_em_vp_img gnt_em_vp_img__yn" data-g-r="lazy" src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RTpWYWIfP7Y/maxresdefault.jpg" onload="if(this.naturalWidth<200){this.setAttribute('onload','this.classList.remove('gnt_em_vp_img__yn')');this.src=" https:="" decoding="async"/><svg class="gnt_em_vp_svg"><use xlink:href="#gnt_svg_video_play"/></svg></a></aside><h2 class="gnt_ar_b_h2">Branson flying VSS Unity plane, Bezos launching in New Shepard rocket</h2><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">The two launches into space will take place in very different spacecrafts. Branson will fly Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity, a spaceplane that will launch from the air after being carried to a high altitude by the aircraft VMS Eve.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">From there, the Unity will use rocket power to fly to the boundary of space. Branson will be part of a crew of six, consisting of two pilots and four mission specialists.</p><figure class="gnt_em gnt_em_img"><img class="gnt_em_img_i" style="height:440px" data-g-r="lazy" src="https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2019/10/16/PNM2/62f6f8f3-fa7f-4460-a556-c1da9e8fde1b-191014_VirginGalactic_03_2893.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp" srcset="https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2019/10/16/PNM2/62f6f8f3-fa7f-4460-a556-c1da9e8fde1b-191014_VirginGalactic_03_2893.jpg?width=1320&height=880&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp 2x" decoding="async" alt="Virgin Galactic and manufacturer Under Armour unveiled the first line of spacewear designed for Virgin Galactic crew members, including commercial passengers, in New York City on Oct. 15, 2019. In the center is Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson."/></figure><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Bezos, meanwhile, will visit space in a capsule <a target="_blank" href="https://www.blueorigin.com/new-shepard/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">on a rocket</a>.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">When Blue Origin's New Shepard...</p></div> <style> .wrapper { text-align: center; } </style> <div class="wrapper"> <a class="button" href ="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/07/10/richard-branson-virgin-galactic-space-flight-launch-explained/7917512002/">Read more <span>➤</span></a> </div>
