Virgin Galactic has revealed the first look at the interior of its Gateway to Space building at Spaceport America in New Mexico. The work showcases the two floors of the building primarily focused on spaceflight operations.

The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia and Virgin Group have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding for a partnership under which PIF intends to invest approximately $1 billion into Virgin Galactic, The Spaceship Company and Virgin Orbit.

Sir Richard Branson and his two children will be among the first passengers to travel to space on Virgin Galactic next year. The Virgin boss revealed that his son Sam and daughter Holly would accompany him on a 60 mile journey into space on the SpaceShipTwo (SS2) aircraft.

Last month the developer of the Virgin Galactic-operated SpaceShipTwo suborbital space tourism vehicle was granted regulatory approval to begin rocket-powered flight testing in the United States, bringing space travel a step closer to a reality. Breaking Travel News catches up with George Whitesides, president and chief executive of Virgin Galactic, to find out what this means for space tourism.

Virgin Galactic and Aabar Investments have announced the appointment of Steve Landeene to the role of chief advisor, Spaceport Abu Dhabi. Between 2007 and 2010, Landeene was executive director of Spaceport America in New Mexico and oversaw the development of Virgin Galactic’s operational hub and the world’s first purpose built commercial spaceport.

Richard Branson’s commercial space venture Virgin Galactic has taken a key step closer to taking tourists into space. Test pilots have flown the spacecraft softly back the Earth’s atmosphere from space. The achievement is fundamental to reducing wear and tear on the rocket, so it can reach achieve the goal of making several flights per day.