A fresh push from China’s state-led space sector signals that space travel may soon move beyond astronauts and scientists. The country’s main aerospace body has outlined plans that could open space to tourists while expanding its presence far beyond Earth.
The state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation has announced that it aims to begin sending tourists on suborbital space trips within the next 5 years. Alongside this, the corporation is also exploring orbital tourism and working on building large-scale digital infrastructure in space.
This announcement comes as China’s commercial space industry continues to grow at a rapid pace. The country now has more than 600 commercial space companies, with annual financing reaching 18.6 billion yuan. Several startups are entering the space tourism race, including InterstellOr, which is targeting suborbital flights that would offer a few minutes of weightlessness at a ticket price of about $430,000.
InterstellOr has already signed its first commercial space tourist, Qiu Heng. Other private firms in the sector have also reported successful test flights, showing steady progress toward commercial launches.
China’s ambitions extend well beyond tourism. The country has filed plans to launch thousands of satellites, a move that directly challenges the current lead held by SpaceX in low Earth orbit. At the same time, Chinese companies are investing heavily in reusable rocket technology, aiming to reduce launch costs and improve mission efficiency in the future.
There is also discussion around creating a “New School of Interstellar Navigation”. This initiative is expected to support long-term space exploration goals, including follow-up lunar missions after the successful Chang’e-6 moon mission.
With government backing, rising private investment, and growing technological capability, China’s space program is entering a new phase. From short suborbital journeys to large orbital networks, the next few years could redefine the country’s role in the global space race.
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