SEE CAPTION FOR MORE INFORMATION / With AFP Story by Ivan COURONNE: First space tourist flights could come in 2019 == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE / MANDATORY CREDIT: "AFP PHOTO / VIRGIN GALACTIC" / NO MARKETING / NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS / DISTRIBUT
This January 11, 2018 handout photograph obtained courtesy of Virgin Galactic shows the Virgin Spaceship (VSS) Unity in Mojave, California. The two companies leading the pack in the pursuit of space tourism say they are just months away from their first out-of-this-world passenger flights -- though neither has set a firm date. Virgin Galactic, founded by British billionaire Richard Branson, and Blue Origin, by Amazon creator Jeff Bezos, are racing to be the first to finish their tests -- with both companies using radically different technology. / AFP PHOTO / Virgin Galactic / HO / With AFP Story by Ivan COURONNE: First space tourist flights could come in 2019 == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE / MANDATORY CREDIT: "AFP PHOTO / VIRGIN GALACTIC" / NO MARKETING / NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS / DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS == / Deferred until Friday 13 July 2018 01:00 -0400 /