Chinese space tourism set for 2027 take-off with aerospace firm offering US$210,000 seats
Chinese tourists are set to enjoy the country’s maiden space travel in 2027, after a private space firm on Thursday sold the first two tickets in the country – costing 1.5 million yuan (US$210,000) each – for seats on a rocket ride.
11:05
Space race elevates Asia in new world order
The company put the tickets on sale at 6pm on Thursday and they were sold within 20 minutes during a live stream event on China’s e-commerce giant Taobao, according to Chinese media outlets.
It plans to release more tickets next month, the company announced.
During the 2027 flight, the passengers will be taken on a suborbital flight, meaning the rocket will reach outer space but not enter orbit around the Earth, according to a statement the company posted to social media on Wednesday.
The company planned to conduct dozens of trials over the next two years, saying it “understands profoundly the complexity and risks” of rocket technology, to ensure the safety and reliability of space travel before officially launching commercial space tourism in 2027, it said.
Huo Liang, chairman of Deep Blue Aerospace, said during the live stream that “ticket prices at several hundred thousand yuan may soon become a reality” as the technology for orbit-capable, reusable rockets advances.