"10 Billion Won for 90-Minute Space Trip"... Space Tourism Package Now Available for Ordinary People in China

90-Minute Journey After Four Days of Training

Suborbital Flight Only Reaching the Edge of Space

Ordinary people can now add "space travel" to their shopping cart on online travel platforms that were once only used to book hotels and flights. Global travel platform Trip.com has introduced a space tourism product in China priced at around 1 billion won, bringing private space travel a step closer to the mainstream.

Virgin Galactic spacecraft interior. The Guardian

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on September 16, Trip.com has started selling U.S.-based Virgin Galactic's space tourism product in China via luxury travel brand HH Travel and the domestic platform Ctrip. The price per person is 5.1 million yuan (about 1.033 billion won). This is by far the most expensive private space tourism product ever offered for public sale in China.

Only 90 minutes of actual flight time in 6-day schedule

The package consists of a total of six days. During the first four days, travelers undergo intensive pre-flight training in the United States. From the fifth day onward, participants board the spacecraft in New Mexico.

Virgin Galactic operates commercial suborbital space travel based at Spaceport America in New Mexico, USA. Spaceport website

The price of space travel varies significantly depending on the orbit and destination. The Trip.com package is a "suborbital flight" that does not revolve around the Earth but instead reaches only up to the boundary of space.

In contrast, Axiom Space’s product, which uses SpaceX's Crew Dragon to reach the International Space Station (ISS), costs in the mid-60 million dollar range per seat for a 10-day itinerary — that’s around 8 to 9 billion won.

China Trip.com Group. Bloomberg

This is over 80 times more expensive than the Trip.com package, but the depth of the experience is entirely different, as participants actually enter Earth orbit and spend several days in space.

Airfare to the U.S. training site not included

Before the main "Virgin Galactic" space flight, travelers must go through intensive simulator-based sessions, including centrifuge and high-gravity training, parabolic flight, and emergency response exercises. Trip.com describes this as "a sport for elites, not just play for the wealthy."

Virgin Galactic spaceship interior view. The Guardian

Although the actual time spent on the space flight is only 90 minutes, passengers experience a few minutes of exhilarating weightlessness during this window. They can also view the curved Earth through the spacecraft’s 17 windows.

The package price covers pre-flight training, local transportation and accommodation, the space suit, commemorative badges, and a recording of the flight. However, international airfare to the United States, visa application fees, and personal insurance are not included.

According to the industry, two customers have already made reservations for the "2027 departure program," which was launched on September 8.

"Is it really safe to complete astronaut training in just four days?" Concerns raised

However, while the concept of "space travel for ordinary people" has generated excitement, there are also voices of concern on Chinese social media and other online platforms.

Virgin Galactic Spacecraft. The Guardian

Some have questioned whether commercial spaceflight technology will really be perfected by 2027 and have expressed worries about guaranteed safe return. Others have pointed out concerns about safety, arguing that a mere four days of preparation cannot compare to the years of training undergone by professional astronauts.

Virgin Galactic previously offered a limited sale of 50 space flight seats, which were already sold out by August, demonstrating strong demand.

There are still no records of homegrown private space tourism flights in China. However, Deep Blue Aerospace is currently selling suborbital tickets for a planned first crewed flight in 2027 at 1.5 million yuan (about 303 million won). CAS Space has also announced plans to enter the crewed space tourism market around 2028.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.