Tourists reach edge of space on Virgin Galactic flight

STORY: The flight marked the Richard Branson-founded company's second commercial mission as it starts routine spaceflights.

The rocket-powered VSS Unity craft dropped from the carrier plane over New Mexico around 9:20 a.m. local time and blasted its four passengers, a company instructor and three tourists, to an altitude of roughly 55 miles (88.51 km).