Richard Branson 'to unveil new space tourism rocket'

Richard Branson is expected to reveal a new SpaceShip later, just over a year since a test pilot was killed in a crash.

SpaceShipTwo's arrival signals a return to testing for Virgin Galactic, the arm of the tycoon's empire that hopes to be the first to take tourists on trips into space.

The team behind the latest suborbital spaceplane includes leaders from NASA's mission control and astronaut corps, the militaries from three nations and from the top flight of the aviation and transport industries.

Virgin Galactic said: "We've charged them with developing a plan to safely test and operate a reusable spacecraft. They have done their homework and subjected their processes to expert external reviews, and they are eager to take the proverbial keys to SpaceShipTwo."