Would you fly on a Chinese Spaceship?

According to Global News, “the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology in Beijing is entering the space tourism business.” China matters wanted to find out more. The Chinese government has been involved in space exploration for the last few decades. But as for space tourism, Chinese companies are just getting started. A Chinese-based company named KuangChi Science is planning to invest about 1.5 billion dollars into a space balloon. The balloon can reach just beyond the border of outer space, according to sources. Similarly, the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology has designed a large sized space plane to meet China’s growing market demand for space tourism. It seems the market is heating up. Another state-backed firm is developing a gigantic spaceship that can fly 20 passengers up to the edge of space. Currently, no other firm can carry that many people. In fact, China is a newbie in space tourism compared to the west. There are at least seven companies in the US competing in this new market, such as Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, Space X and even start-ups like Xcor. As the Observer recently reported, Virgin Galactic will begin to take around 700 paying customers into space. In addition, start-up Xcor is working on a rocket that could fly up to 200,000 feet and then glide back to earth. The trip will cost a traveler less than 100 thousand US dollars. Space X is also looking to lower the cost of space travel by creating reusable rockets. But, they are not the only ones, Blue Origin, owned by Jeff Bezos is also working on the New Sheppard passenger ship. Despite Western efforts, the New York Times reported that China could be the world’s largest market in the space tourism industry in the future. Will China become a major player in space tourism? As more Chinese firms and academies delve into commercial space tourism, the cost for space travel will be lowered and China could emerge as a major launching point. Hopefully, the Chinese middle class will be able to afford and enjoy a trip to space in the future. The next time I see you, it might be in space, but for now, if you liked this video, share it with your friends and follow us.