Shares of Sir Ricard Branson's Virgin Galactic (NYSE: SPCE) -- the original space stock -- were trading 5% higher as of 1:50 p.m. ET Thursday after the company confirmed it is on track to launch a second batch of space tourists past the Kármán line in August.  

Just two weeks ago, Virgin Galactic made history by launching its first-ever commercial space tourism flight, carrying three Italian Air Force officers into space to conduct experiments at a price of $200,000 apiece.

Virgin Galactic also promised that it would follow up this "Galactic 01" mission with a "Galactic 02" mission in August -- and begin launching space tourism flights at the rate of one per month thereafter.

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Source Fool.com