China to offer trip to 40-km-high edge of space  

中国将推太空观光：50万将可上4万米高空看风景

日前，多位国内知名航天专家聚首北京航天城，参加“太空边缘观光项目”总体设计方案研讨会，中国民间的太空观光时代即将到来。中科院院士、原嫦娥工程首席科学家欧阳自远指出，该项目技术方案具备可行性，是实现太空观光飞行中相对稳妥、安全、经济的办法。 [查看全文]

(ECNS) – China plans to offer a trip to the edge of space for 500,000 yuan ($8,150) per ticket, the Beijing Times reported.

Supported by a number of domestic space research institutions, the trip is designed to take travelers 40 kilometers up in a high altitude balloon.

During the five-hour trip seated in a capsule lifted by the balloon, travelers can see amazing views, including the curvature of Earth, sunrise and sundown, and lunar craters.

Passengers will also find out the landing points of the Chang'e and Apollo probes, and glimpse a coronal mass ejection, which doesn't occur frequently.

In addition to pressurized suits, the flight will offer lifesaving equipment such as parachutes. "Passengers can use the parachutes for emergencies, or just to experience skydiving," said the program organizer.

The cost includes fees for entry, training and insurance. "Quite a number of people have shown interest in the trip," the organizer added. But travelers must pass training and health examinations before being lifted to the edge of space.

The travel schedule has not been set. The program organizer said that will come after flight testing is finished in July next year.