In pictures: Space tourism jet

British businessman Richard Branson has unveiled an aircraft designed for his company's project to launch tourists into space.

The launch ceremony took place in the Mojave Desert at the headquarters of a California-based aerospace company run by engineer Burt Rutan.

The high-altitude jet will act as the mothership for a spacecraft, releasing it at 50,000 feet to take two crew and six passengers on sub-orbital flights.

The aircraft has been christened Eve after Mr Branson's mother and has a helmeted blonde woman as its motif.

Mr Branson has said that he and his family will be among Virgin Galactic's first space travellers. The voyage will cost tourists $200,000 (�100,000) each.