China plans launch the biggest space plane to carry 20 tourists
Even China can't resist the lure of space tourism. A state-backed firm is developing and design a gigantic space plane. The plane may one day fly up to the edge of space.
The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology in Beijing has designed a simple, one-piece space plane whose design can be scaled up to carry more people, academy rocket scientist Lui Haiquang told the International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico, last week.
The academy will have plenty of competition. Big companies such as Virgin Galactic, whose Space Ship Two space plane will offer six passengers trips and XCOR, whose proposed Lynx vehicle will fly a single passenger seated beside a pilot. Blue Origin's suborbital space capsule, New Shepard, aims to carry six tourists. But, academy team believe consumer demand will be high enough to build more higher capacity spacecraft.
A large number of people are interested in the experience of space flight. This project will very attractive for some people such as bosses and businessmen.
They have designed a winged rocket that takes off under its own power. That sets it apart from Space Ship Two, which must be carried to high altitude by an aircraft before firing its own rocket.
Even China can't resist the lure of space tourism. A state-backed firm is developing and design a gigantic space plane. The plane may one day fly up to the edge of space.
The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology in Beijing has designed a simple, one-piece space plane whose design can be scaled up to carry more people, academy rocket scientist Lui Haiquang told the International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico, last week.
The academy will have plenty of competition. Big companies such as Virgin Galactic, whose Space Ship Two space plane will offer six passengers trips and XCOR, whose proposed Lynx vehicle will fly a single passenger seated beside a pilot. Blue Origin's suborbital space capsule, New Shepard, aims to carry six tourists. But, academy team believe consumer demand will be high enough to build more higher capacity spacecraft.
A large number of people are interested in the experience of space flight. This project will very attractive for some people such as bosses and businessmen.
They have designed a winged rocket that takes off under its own power. That sets it apart from Space Ship Two, which must be carried to high altitude by an aircraft before firing its own rocket.
