Truth or Consequences, New Mexico | Swashbuckling billionaire Richard Branson hurtled into space aboard his own winged rocket ship on Sunday (monday AEST), bringing astro-tourism a step closer to reality and beating his exceedingly richer rival, Jeff Bezos.

The nearly 71-year-old Mr Branson and five crewmates from his Virgin Galactic space-tourism company reached an altitude of 53.5 miles (86 kilometres) over the New Mexico desert – enough to experience three to four minutes of weightlessness and see the curvature of the Earth – and then glided back home to a runway landing.

AP