NBC Universal To Broadcast First Ever Virgin Galactic Space Flight – ‘Virgin Galactic Is Thrilled That NBCUniversal Will Join Us On Our Exciting First Journey To Space,’ Says Sir Richard Branson

Sir Richard Branson will be taking the first ever tourist journey beyond planet earth trough his company Virgin Galactic, the first ever commercial space flight will happen August next year and NBC Universal will be the official network to televise the historic event.

Virgin Galactic and NBC Universal signed a "multi-platform partnership" deal to facilitate the transmittal of the flight, bringing details of the event to the world.

NBC's Today morning show hosted by Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie will be televising the three-hour live event on August next year. The hosts together with the viewers will be watching the Bransons epic journey to space.

The 63 year-old  flamboyant business tycoon will be taking along his adult children with him aboard the SpaceShipTwo from Virgin Galactic's terminal at Spaceport America, Holly, 31, and Sam, 28. The crew and other privileged passengers remain to be unknown as of the moment.

"Without a doubt, Sir Richard and his children taking the first commercial flight into space will go down in history as one of the most memorable events on television," according to Sharon Scott, President and General Manager of Peacock Productions. "Through NBCUniversal's multiple platforms and overseas network partners, viewers from around the world will get to experience this where were you moment; we're extremely honored to chronicle Sir Richard's journey and live launch into space."

"Virgin Galactic is thrilled that NBCUniversal will join us on our exciting first journey to space," Sir Richard Branson's response. "In this first chapter of commercial space travel, we will help make space accessible and inspire countless more people to join us in the pursuit of space exploration and science innovation."

The target schedule may change, as there are many things that need to be considered before pursuing the project, like flight-testing.

"They are hoping for August, but it's completely engineering-driven," Scott Explains. "There's no guarantee for that. August is the desire."

If everything goes according to plan, the VSS Enterprise will take off from Spaceport America in New Mexico hurled below the WhiteKnightTwo mothership dubbed as VMS Eve.

The VSS Enterprise will be dropped by the mothership at 50,000 ft and it will fire its hybrid motor to an altitude of 68 mi (110 km) on a suborbital course.

When in space, all six passengers together with the two crews will be allowed to leave their seats and freely enjoy the weightlessness for a short period before coming back to Earth in an unpowered glide.

The space flight will cost US$250,000 per person and according to Virgin Galactic's reports; it has already received around US$80 million in deposit just for approximately 640 customers.