Chinese rocket startup Deep Blue Aerospace sold two tickets for its 2027 commercial suborbital flight on Taobao, an Alibaba-owned shopping platform. The tickets were initially priced at CNY 1.5 million ($210,700) per passenger but were sold at a discounted rate of CNY 1 million ($140,000) during a live broadcast. The spacecraft will fly to an altitude of 100 kilometers but will not enter orbit. The two tickets were sold quickly, with buyers paying an initial deposit of CNY 500,000 ($70,000) per ticket. The CEO of Deep Blue Aerospace, Huo Liang, aims to make space travel more accessible to a broader audience and increase understanding of space travel through livestreaming.
The cost of space tourism may be high currently, but Liang believes that the cost will decrease significantly in the future as the company’s reusable rocket technology improves. Deep Blue Aerospace requires interested customers to sign contracts in person and visit the company before making their final payment. The Nebula-1 rocket, equipped with six panoramic windows, will be able to accommodate up to six passengers and is designed to be reusable over 50 times. The spacecraft is still under development, and the CEO and five others are set to travel into space for the mission in 2027 if all goes according to plan.
Reliability and safety concerns have been raised by viewers of the livestream and the public. Deep Blue Aerospace conducted an initial test of the reusable Nebula-1 in June, which was successful, but a landing test in September was not completely successful. The company plans to conduct another launch experiment in November and further testing in the coming years. Deep Blue Aerospace assures that safety measures are strictly followed, with comprehensive risk identification, control, and emergency plans in place.
China is making strides in space tourism, with companies like Deep Blue Aerospace and CAS Space leading the way. Deep Blue Aerospace, founded in 2016 and based in Jiangsu province, focuses on developing reusable rockets. CAS Space, a state-backed company, announced its first crewed space tourism flight for 2028. Tickets for CAS Space flights are expected to cost between CNY 2 million and 3 million ($281,000–$421,000). Both companies are banking on reusable rocket technology to make space missions more affordable and sustainable. The space economy is projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035, with an annual growth rate of 9%, outpacing global GDP.
The Chinese interest in space tourism is evident through the success of Deep Blue Aerospace’s ticket sales and the government-backed initiatives like CAS Space. The potential for growth in the space economy is significant, and companies are working towards making space travel more accessible to a wider range of people. The development of reusable rocket technology plays a crucial role in achieving these goals and making space missions more affordable and sustainable. With continued advancements in technology and safety measures, the future of space tourism in China looks promising. And who knows, maybe one day travelers will be donning Prada space suits on their way to explore the final frontier.
