The Chinese space station could open to tourism within a decade
“It's not a question of technology but a question,” Yang replied when asked if the general public would be able to visit Tiangong. “And it can be accomplished within a decade as long as there is such a demand.”
Yang spoke as a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which is part of China's annual political sessions in Beijing . Adding further weight to the comments was Zhou Jianping, known as the chief designer of China's human spaceflight program, who later said the country's Shenzhou spacecraft could be used for space tourism. Taken together, the statements suggest that China is seeking to establish a market for space tourism. But first, China must complete the three-module T-shaped space station and make it fully operational. China plans to launch six missions this year to complete Tiangong. These will be launches of two new modules, a pair of cargo refueling missions and two manned missions, Shenzhou 14 and Shenzhou 15. The two three-person missions are also expected to carry out the first crew handover, which will temporarily see six astronauts. aboard the space station.
Chinese syndrome The Shenzhou spacecraft, which is launched from Jiuquan in the Gobi desert on a Long March 2F rocket, will not be the only option to take tourists into space. China is working on a reusable rocket for human spaceflight, which would be capable of launching a new, larger and partially reusable manned spacecraft towards the space station, Space.com reported. This would allow more people to fly into space at the same time.
While the Shenzhou spacecraft can only carry three astronauts, the new generation of manned space transport vehicles will be able to carry six to seven astronauts, explained last year Huang Kewu, a human spaceflight official with the country's main space contractor, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
Wu Ji, a researcher at CAS's National Space Science Center, told Beijing Review last year that he hoped Chinese companies could compete in the international space tourism market. "Commercial programs can help reduce costs and improve the efficiency of space activities, which will also benefit traditional players in this space," Wu said. China's first space tourism flights may not take off for a few years, but the country seems intent on establishing different ways for tourists to reach space.
