WONG:
British billionaire Richard Branson unveils a sophisticated aircraft. It's for customers to experience suborbital space travel. Let's take a look.

STORY:
British billionaire Richard Branson introduces a special vehicle to the public in the Mojave Desert. It's designed for high-altitude travel. WhiteKnight Two is the mothership for Branson's Virgin Galactic, his ambitious effort to bring commercial travel into space.

WhiteKnight Two will be ready for its first passengers in 2010, promising travelers a rare glimpse at Earth from space. Test flights will begin this autumn.

Branson named the plane after his own mother, "Eve."

Nearly 200 adventure seekers have signed up to be on Eve's maiden flight. The going rate for a trip to suborbital space is 200,000 U.S. dollars.

[Richard Branson, Virgin Galactic CEO]:
"They [planes] can help change our relationship with space, achieving an era where accessibility becomes a commercial and scientific norm rather than an exception."

Branson plans to be aboard together with his family on the first flight.