Branson plans to journey to the bottom of the ocean

Sir Richard Branson is already selling tickets to fly people to the edge of space and now he wants to voyage to the bottom of the deepest oceans.

His latest idea, called Virgin Oceanic, is a scientific endeavour rather than a tourist venture.

One of its intended destinations is the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean which, at 36,000ft deep, is further down than Mount Everest is high.

The craft has been specially constructed to withstand the intense pressure. It has been built from titanium and carbon fibre with a transparent viewing capsule made from a single piece of quartz as glass would simply shatter.

Rajesh Mirchandani went along to have a look at its launch in California.

Animation courtesy Virgin Oceanic