Taking passengers to space could is one step closer to becoming a reality

Virgin Galactic’s rocket-powered plane, carrying two pilots has soared into the upper atmosphere on its third mission to reach space.

The success cues up Virgin Galactic to begin launching paying customers within the next year.

The spacecraft called ‘Spaceplane VSS Unity’ reached an altitude of 55.45 miles.

The US government recognises the 50-mile mark as the edge of space.

The company tweeted over the weekend that the spaceflight carried technology experiments for NASA’s Flight Opportunities Program.

Virgin Galactic, founded by British billionaire Richard Branson in 2004 has spent years pledging to take groups of customers on brief, scenic flights to suborbital space.