Chinese state-backed company will begin its space tourism flights by 2028

In a burgeoning space race, Chinese commercial space enterprise CAS Space has announced plans for a space tourism vehicle set to rival Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin. According to a report by Reuters on Friday, the craft is slated to launch in 2027, aiming to reach the edge of space by 2028.

This revelation comes hot on the heels of Blue Origin’s declaration that crewed operations would resume imminently, following a hiatus of nearly two years. Bezos’ company plans to utilize its New Shepard rocket for short-duration space missions, accommodating both cargo and passengers.

CAS Space’s ambitious project envisions a tourist cabin capable of housing seven individuals per flight, complete with four panoramic windows to afford breathtaking views of space. The company plans to have ten spacecraft available for shuttling visitors to the edge of space every 100 hours, launching from a newly constructed aerospace theme park.

Reports suggest that tickets for each voyage will range between 2 million and 3 million yuan ($415,127) per person, indicating a potentially lucrative market for space tourism in China.

Notably, the Chinese Academy of Sciences holds the second-largest stake in CAS Space, underlining the government’s involvement in fostering the nation’s commercial space sector. Established in 2018 and based in Guangzhou, CAS Space is poised to make significant strides in the burgeoning space tourism industry.

China’s space exploration program has recently showcased remarkable progress, with the launch of the Chang’e-6 mission marking a significant milestone. As China closes the gap with the US space program, anticipation mounts for the possibility of returning samples from the moon’s far side—a feat that could further elevate China’s standing in the global space arena.

The increased attention on space exploration has not gone unnoticed by the public, as evidenced by the influx of tourists to the launch site in the Chinese province of Hainan following the Chang’e-6 mission. Tens of thousands flocked to various viewing locations, causing substantial traffic congestion as they eagerly awaited the historic liftoff.