A Chinese entrepreneur plans to set up a commercial space project to fly travellers in a manned capsule above the earth surface where they can see the curve of the planet and experience weightlessness.
Jiang Fang, president of a Beijing-based company “Space Vision,” plans to build a manned capsule carried by a high-tech balloon filled with helium gas to carry sightseers about 40km above the earth’s surface.
In addition to the flight system, the company spent nine months researching feasible communications, radar and other ground-based monitoring operations, Jiang told state-run Xinhua news agency.
The company is working with government-funded research institutions on technological matters and the trip is expected to to cost around $81,400. “Some experts helped us to improve issues on the gravity-free period and when and how the parachute should open,” Jiang said, adding that a more detailed and complete plan will be unveiled by the end of next month.
