Richard Branson on CNN: I’ll Still be First Space Passenger

In an interview that aired on New Day, CNN Correspondent Poppy Harlow spoke with Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson who said he still plans to be on his company’s first flight that takes tourists to space, despite the fatal crash of his SpaceShipTwo during a test flight on Friday.

“There is no way I would ask others to go on a Virgin Galactic flight if I didn’t feel it was safe enough for myself,” he said.

Branson said the 800 passengers who have signed up to spend $250,000 each on the flights remain supportive of his company’s plans. Two more signed up and paid for their flights on Friday as a show of support for the program, he said. “They want to see this happen, and they want to show their commitment.”

He also told Poppy that despite the crash and the death of co-pilot Michael Alsbury that “the risk is worth it. Mike would have been the first to say that.”

Watch Poppy Harlow’s extended interview via CNN Money, here: http://cnnmon.ie/1x1JEa3