Chinese startup announces suborbital space travel plans for 2027
Chinese startup Deep Blue Aerospace introduced its commercial space tourism initiative on Thursday, revealing plans for the launch of its inaugural suborbital manned spacecraft in 2027.
TroibNews 
Chinese startup Deep Blue Aerospace introduced its commercial space tourism initiative on Thursday, revealing plans for its inaugural suborbital manned spacecraft launch set for 2027.
During a live streaming event on China's e-commerce platform Taobao on Thursday evening, the first two tickets sold out almost instantly.
The cost for suborbital travel is set at 1.5 million yuan for a round trip, with an initial deposit of 50,000 yuan. A promotional discount of 500,000 yuan per ticket was available during the event, and further ticket sales are planned for next month.
The company's reusable rocket, Nebula-1, will carry the manned spacecraft, which has the capacity to transport six passengers to altitudes ranging from 100 to 150 kilometers.
The suborbital flight, lasting approximately 12 minutes, will breach the Karman line—defined at an altitude of 100 kilometers and acting as the boundary between Earth's atmosphere and outer space. Passengers can expect to experience at least five minutes of weightlessness, and the spacecraft is equipped with a parachute system for a safe landing.
Huo Liang, CEO of Deep Blue Aerospace, emphasized during the live stream the importance of reusable rockets in lowering launch costs. He noted that improvements in this technology may bring the price for space travel down to "hundreds of thousands of yuan."
The company’s three-year pre-sale is motivated by safety considerations, focusing on technology development, test verification, and performance optimization to ensure that their rocket adheres to stringent safety standards.
"Human life is of utmost importance, and we are committed to ensuring that everyone returns safely," Huo stated, noting that the spacecraft will undergo extensive testing prior to flights, and he will participate as a passenger on the suborbital journey.
The commercial space travel sector is still emerging, with leaders including SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic paving the way.
Additionally, several Chinese companies have unveiled their plans to enter the space tourism arena. For instance, in May, Beijing-based CAS Space announced its intention to launch a space travel vehicle in 2027, aiming for manned journeys to the edge of space by 2028.
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
During a live streaming event on China's e-commerce platform Taobao on Thursday evening, the first two tickets sold out almost instantly.
The cost for suborbital travel is set at 1.5 million yuan for a round trip, with an initial deposit of 50,000 yuan. A promotional discount of 500,000 yuan per ticket was available during the event, and further ticket sales are planned for next month.
The company's reusable rocket, Nebula-1, will carry the manned spacecraft, which has the capacity to transport six passengers to altitudes ranging from 100 to 150 kilometers.
The suborbital flight, lasting approximately 12 minutes, will breach the Karman line—defined at an altitude of 100 kilometers and acting as the boundary between Earth's atmosphere and outer space. Passengers can expect to experience at least five minutes of weightlessness, and the spacecraft is equipped with a parachute system for a safe landing.
Huo Liang, CEO of Deep Blue Aerospace, emphasized during the live stream the importance of reusable rockets in lowering launch costs. He noted that improvements in this technology may bring the price for space travel down to "hundreds of thousands of yuan."
The company’s three-year pre-sale is motivated by safety considerations, focusing on technology development, test verification, and performance optimization to ensure that their rocket adheres to stringent safety standards.
"Human life is of utmost importance, and we are committed to ensuring that everyone returns safely," Huo stated, noting that the spacecraft will undergo extensive testing prior to flights, and he will participate as a passenger on the suborbital journey.
The commercial space travel sector is still emerging, with leaders including SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic paving the way.
Additionally, several Chinese companies have unveiled their plans to enter the space tourism arena. For instance, in May, Beijing-based CAS Space announced its intention to launch a space travel vehicle in 2027, aiming for manned journeys to the edge of space by 2028.
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
