Branson takes the kids for a ride

Sir Richard Branson and his children will be among the first passengers when the Virgin Galactic space tourism programme begins in 2013.

Virgin boss Sir Richard and son Sam and daughter Holly are expected to be flying 96km into space on the SpaceShipTwo (SS2) aircraft by the end of next year.

Sir Richard said 529 tourists have signed up for the two-hour flights, at $US200,000 a trip.