Chinese startup Deep Blue Aerospace unveiled its commercial space tourism plan on Thursday, announcing the launch of its first suborbital manned spacecraft in 2027.
The first two tickets were sold out within moments during a live streaming event on China's e-commerce platform Taobao on Thursday evening.
Suborbital travel is priced at 1.5 million yuan (roughly $210,500) for a round trip, with a deposit of 50,000 yuan. A discount of 500,000 yuan was offered for each order during the event. More tickets will go on sale next month.
The manned spacecraft, to be launched by the company's reusable rocket Nebula-1, can carry six passengers to a maximum flight altitude of 100 to 150 kilometers.
During the approximately 12-minute suborbital flight, it will cross the Karman line, a boundary at an altitude of 100 kilometers that separates Earth's atmosphere from outer space. Passengers will experience at least five minutes of weightlessness and will land safely with a parachute system.
Huo Liang, CEO of Deep Blue Aerospace, stated during the live stream that reusable rockets are crucial for reducing high launch costs. With advancements in reusable rocket technology, the price for space travel could be reduced to "hundreds of thousands of yuan."
The company's three-year pre-sale is primarily due to safety considerations. During this period, the company will focus on technology development, test verification, and performance optimization to ensure that the rocket meets the highest safety standards.
"Human life is of utmost importance, and we are committed to ensuring that everyone returns safely," Huo said, adding that the spacecraft will undergo hundreds of tests before the flight, and he will also be one of the passengers on the suborbital journey.
The commercial space travel industry is still in its early stages, with companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic leading the way.
Several Chinese companies have also announced their plans. In May, the Beijing-based rocket company CAS Space stated it would launch its first space travel vehicle in 2027 and begin manned travel to the edge of space in 2028.
(Cover via CFP)