Watch Richard Branson’s ego trip to edge of space

Sir Richard Branson has bagged some major bragging rights at the billionaires’ club.

The tax exile has pipped Jeff Bezos to the title of first billionaire in space. You can watch the monumental ego trip in the video atop this article.

Branson’s 1.5-hour journey reached an apex of around 89kms — just above NASA’s benchmark for granting astronaut wings.

The Virgin Galactic founder then spent a few minutes pointlessly floating around at zero gravity. For those who’d hoped he’d stay in space, I regret to inform you that this was a return flight.

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While you’re thanking Branson for his selfless labor, remember to spare a thought for Jeff Bezos. The Amazon founder was set to beat Branson in the billionaires’ space race, until the Virgin kingpin moved his schedule forward to take the ostentatious crown. Poor Jeff’s inaugural flight is penciled in for July 20.

To his credit, Bezos magnanimously congratulated his space rival on the trip. But his rocket company had a painful dig at Branson’s plans.

Blue Origin tweeted that anyone who flies on Virgin Galactic’s Unity will have “an asterisk next to their name” because they wouldn’t reach the “internationally recognized” 100km altitude where space begins. Ouch.

From the beginning, New Shepard was designed to fly above the Kármán line so none of our astronauts have an asterisk next to their name. For 96% of the world’s population, space begins 100 km up at the internationally recognized Kármán line. pic.twitter.com/QRoufBIrUJ

— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) July 9, 2021

The Virgin vehicle is, however, a better-looking beast to my eyes. Blue Origin’s spaceplane, by contrast, is unimaginatively phallic. But that’s a fitting shape for a penis-measuring contest.