Move aside billionaires, Chinese firm CAS Space is on its way to send its first paying passengers on suborbital trips to the edge of space. Come 2025, Yang Yiqiang, founder of a government-backed company and shaper of many space dreams, will commence suborbital travel in 2025 for a whopping 2-3 million Yuan ($285, 00-$427,000). As per the refined business model, the company will explore the commercial use of rockets resulting in a full bloom of commercial space tourism,shared SCMP. The founder stated at least seven tourists would be able to fly at a time to an altitude of more than 100km (62 miles) on a 10-minute suborbital trip.
CAS Space will take passengers above the Kármán line (the boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space) to experience a few minutes of weightlessness. This single-stage reusable rocket and spacecraft would separate and continue to fly with the force of inertia. “Along with the rapid development of space technology, a space tour for ordinary people is no longer a fantasy but is becoming a reality. A trip to outer space will bring tourists a brand-new experience,” Yang was quoted as saying by China Daily.
He added, “Along with the rapid development of space technology, a space tour for ordinary people is no longer a fantasy but is becoming a reality. A trip to outer space will bring tourists a brand-new experience.” Before zooming above the Kármán line, a series of crewless test flights will commence next year. The Chinese Academy of Sciences partly owns CAS Space, and the suborbital trips will be conducted in partnership with China Tourism Group, the largest state-owned travel company in the nation.
