SUMMER OF THE BILLIONAIRE! BRANSON TO SPACE! A developing Earth story.. as the AP reports: TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, N.M. (AP) — After a lifetime of yearning to fly in space, Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson was poised to blast off aboard his own winged rocket ship Sunday in his boldest adventure yet. The thrill-seeking billionaire joined five company employees also assigned to the bid to reach the edge of space high above the New Mexico desert. “It’s a beautiful day to go to space,” Branson tweeted in the morning, posting a photo of himself with fellow billionaire and space-tourism rival Elon Musk. Ever the showman, Branson counted down the days to liftoff via Twitter. He viewed the brief up-and-down trip as a confidence builder in his space-tourism company — not only for the 600-plus people already holding reservations for a joyride but for others thinking of plunking down a few hundred thousand dollars for a chance to leave Earth’s atmosphere. LIVE