He and three other Virgin Galactic employees served as a "mission specialist," testing the passenger experience for future customers: Beth Moses, the company's chief astronaut instructor; Colin Bennett, its lead operations engineer; and Sirisha Bandla, the vice president of government affairs and research.
The company plans to start commercial tourist flights to the edge of space in 2022 and has already sold roughly 600 tickets worth about $250,000 each, plus another 1,000 on a waiting list for when sales reopen.
Here are 26 photos that capture what it was like.
Virgin Galactic flights depart from the company's spaceport near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.
Virgin Galactic
The luxurious, retro-futuristic departure lounge is the hub of Spaceport America.
Virgin Galactic
Branson posed with crew members Beth Moses, Colin Bennett, and Sirisha Bandla, and pilots Dave Mackay and Mike Masucci.
Virgin Galactic
A star-themed walkway leads out to the tarmac.
Virgin Galactic
The team traveled in Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity.
Virgin Galactic
Branson and the crew posed in front of the company's SpaceShipTwo space plane.
Virgin Galactic
Inside the cabin are six seats, each next to a 17-inch window.
Virgin Galactic
Detailing on the headrests shows the evolution of flight.
Virgin Galactic
Branson could be seen waving through the window of the spacecraft.
Virgin Galactic
VSS Unity took off with its carrier jet, VMS Eve, named for Branson's mother.
Joe Skipper/Reuters
The VSS Unity spacecraft detached from the VMS Eve mothership...
Virgin Galactic
... and fired its engines.
Virgin Galactic
VSS Unity then began its ascent...
Virgin Galactic via Reuters
... while VMS Eve turned away and VSS Unity continued its rise on its own.
Joe Skipper/Reuters
Once VSS Unity reached the apogee at around 300,000 feet, the engines cut out...
Virgin Galactic
... and the booms moved into position.
Virgin Galactic
Branson took advantage of the zero G environment.
Virgin Galactic
The floating experience lasted only a few minutes...
Virgin Galactic
... but the views were out of this world.
Virgin Galactic
There was still enough time for a few acrobatics...
Virgin Galactic
... and inversions...
Virgin Galactic
... and one last look before bucking back in.
Virgin Galactic
The VSS Unity craft returned to base...
Joe Skipper/Reuters
... and was towed back to the spaceport.
Joe Skipper/Reuters
Branson popped champagne after being declared an astronaut by Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield following his flight...
