China Plans To Develop A Gigantic Spaceplane For 20 Tourists

China wants to enter the overpowering and ambitious world of space tourism. They plan to develop a massive spaceplane that could bring 20 tourists to outer space.

The scientists from the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology in Beijing has conceptualized a spaceplane that could carry more people. Lui Haiquang, academy rocket scientists and colleagues announced their plans at the International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico last week, according to New Scientist.

The trouble with a trip to space
in China's proposed SpacePlane is...https://t.co/21Yi67SU48
that 20 mins later,
you'll want to do it again

— Tim Beresford (@BeresfordAuthor) October 3, 2016

The spaceplane looks like a cross between a rocket and a jet plane. It will take off into near regions of space and then steer back down to planet Earth. It will be reusable up to 50 times and each seat will cost about $200,000 to $250,000.

The academy, which is also supported by the state government stated that the flight tests will be completed within two years. China has been to space program ever since. In 2003, it became the third country to launch astronauts into space using the homegrown technology. It also launched its second space lab into orbit last month and the world's first quantum satellite earlier this year, according to Inverse.

On the other hand, it is trying to verge on with the United States and Russia in space technology. It is held back by the lack of international cooperation as the United States has hindered any association with NASA and the International Space Station.

There are other companies that are into space tourism and building spaceplanes such as Virgin Galactic, XCOR, and Blue Origin. The Virgin Galactic is designing a spacecraft called SpaceShip Two that offers six tourists. Meanwhile, XCOR has the Lynx vehicle that could carry a single tourist seated beside a pilot. Blue Origin also has the New Shepard, a space capsule that could carry six passengers. These indicate that the academy has a spaceship with much higher capacity.