Virgin spaceplane takes off with its first customers

Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic rocket plane took customers to the far reaches of space on its first commercial flight.

The 70-minute mission was purchased by the Italian Air Force and the Italian National Research Council.

The Unity rover climbed 279.00 feet (85 km) over the New Mexico desert before descending back to Earth.

The mission took off from Spaceport America at approximately 08:30 local time (14:30 GMT) and was broadcast live around the world.

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