He'll be a passenger in the back of the Unity rocket plane his Virgin Galactic company has been developing in the US for the better part of two decades.
The vehicle can climb to an altitude of 90km (295,000ft), giving those onboard a few minutes of weightlessness and a view of the curvature of the Earth.
Sir Richard's intention is to introduce a commercial spaceflight service.
Some 600 individuals have already lodged deposits to take the ride.
