'First Private Spaceflight' Branson: "It Was Magical... Everyone Should Be Able to Experience It" (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The era of private space tourism has been opened by British eccentric billionaire Richard Branson. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, who is devoted to space exploration, and Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, had to concede the title of 'first space tourist' to Branson, who showed unwavering determination.

Richard Branson, Chairman of Virgin Group, is experiencing weightlessness in space.
[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Richard Branson, chairman of Virgin Group, flew into space aboard Virgin Galactic's spacecraft 'VSS Unity' on the 11th (local time) and returned safely to the ground.

At 7:30 a.m. that day, Branson was carried by the mothership toward space from the Spaceport America space center in New Mexico, leaving behind an audience of about 500 people.

Riding the spacecraft 'Unity,' which separated from the mothership and soared into space, he unfastened his seatbelt and experienced four minutes of microgravity. During this time, he delivered a message: "To all children, I was once a child who dreamed while looking at the stars, and now I have boarded a spaceship. Imagine what you can do."

After landing back on Earth, Branson said, "Everything was magical," and added, "Everyone should have easier access to space travel. If you have dreamed, now is the time to make it come true. Welcome to the dawn of the space age."

Although he only experienced about four minutes of microgravity at an altitude of 55 miles (88.5 km), he became the first private individual in human history to undertake space tourism.

Having invested in space travel for 17 years, Branson announced his intention to travel to space nine days before Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, who had announced he would fly aboard his space exploration company Blue Origin's rocket on the 20th, and successfully achieved it.

Richard Branson, Chairman of Virgin Group, is holding a press conference after safely completing his space travel.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Branson, who will turn 71 on the 18th, signed his name in the astronaut log before boarding and wrote, reminiscent of the protagonist James Bond from the movie '007,' "Astronaut Double-oh one. License to thrill."

Regarding Branson's successful space trip, CNN described it as "the dawn of the commercial space travel era." Virgin Galactic has already received reservations from 600 space tourists. The travel cost is $250,000 per person.

CNN reported that it is still unclear who will truly open the era of commercial space travel, as Bezos's Blue Origin is scheduled to take customers to space.

Bezos, who lost the record of the world's first private space traveler to Branson, congratulated him on Instagram, saying, "Congratulations on the flight," and expressed his eagerness to join the 'space tourism club' soon.

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, who is also competing in space development, watched Branson's space flight in person at the launch site in New Mexico.