Richard Branson expects to fly passengers into space by 2020

Virgin Galactic seeks space tourism boost with market launch. Photo: AFP Relaxnews

British billionaire Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic will merge with an investment firm from the US to become the world’s first publicly traded space tourism venture – with an eye on sending its first clients into space within a year, the group’s chief executive said recently.

“By embarking on this new chapter, at this advanced point in Virgin Galactic’s development, we can open space to more investors, and in doing so open space to thousands of new astronauts,” Branson said in a statement.