Science Branson's Virgin Galactic to sell space flight tickets starting at $450,000

Virgin Galactic ticket sales coming after billionaire founder Richard Branson's high-profile trip to the edge of space

Spaceship company Virgin Galactic (SPCE.N) said it will open ticket sales on Thursday for space flights starting at $450,000 a seat, weeks after billionaire founder Richard Branson's high-profile trip to the edge of space.

Branson soared more than 50 miles above the New Mexico desert aboard a Virgin Galactic rocket plane on July 11 and safely returned in the vehicle's first fully crewed test flight to space, a symbolic milestone for a venture he started 17 years ago.

In this photo provided by Virgin Galactic, the VSS Unity reaches a speed of Mach 3, and a space altitude of 53.5 miles above the Earth on Sunday, July 11, 2021. (Virgin Galactic via AP)

Shares of the company rose 5% in extended trading on Thursday.

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In June, Virgin Galactic received approval from the U.S. aviation safety regulator to fly people to space.

Ticker Security Last Change Change %
SPCE VIRGIN GALACTIC HOLDINGS INC. 6.76 +0.20 +2.97%

The company said it will have three consumer offerings - a single seat, a multi-seat package and a full-flight buy out.

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Sales will initially open to the company's significant list of "early hand-raisers", it said.