In Pics | Branson, Bezos & other billionaires who’re gearing up to blast off into space

Here we take a look at the billionaires who’re eyeing blast into space. Their trip to space will launch a milestone in the promising space tourism industry.

Virgin atlantic’s Richard Branson is due to take off on July 11 from New Mexico, launching with two pilots and three other employees aboard a rocket plane carried aloft by a double-fuselage aircraft. Credit: Reuters Photo

Amazon co-founcer Jeff Bezos will depart nine days later from West Texas along with his brother, blasting off in a fully automated capsule. Credit: Reuters Photo

Elon Musk's SpaceX has already sent astronauts and cargo payloads to the International Space Station, and the company has plans to launch an all-civilian crew into orbit in September 2021. Credit: AFP Photo

Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa will go around the moon in SpaceX’s forthcoming Starship rocket in 2023. Credit: Reuters Photo

Google co-founder Sergey Brin has reportedly invested $5 million in 2008 for a space mission. He has reportedly booked a seat on a private space flight with a space tourism company that has taken 5 people into orbit. Credit: DH Photo