A Chinese space tourism startup announced in January 2026 that it eyes what year for its first crewed mission?

In January 2026, the Chinese space tourism startup InterstellOr announced its ambitious goal to launch its first crewed mission by 2028. This Beijing-based company aims to offer suborbital space tourism, allowing passengers to experience a few minutes of microgravity above the Kármán Line, the internationally recognized boundary of space. The announcement highlighted a significant step forward in China's burgeoning commercial space sector, signaling its intent to join the global race for private space travel.

InterstellOr, founded in January 2023, has been actively developing its reusable CYZ1 (ChuanYueZhe 1) crew capsule, even unveiling a full-scale experimental version and conducting landing buffer tests. The company has already begun taking bookings for future flights, reportedly priced around 3 million Chinese yuan, or approximately US$430,000. Adding a touch of celebrity appeal, Chinese actor Johnny Huang Jingyu has signed up as one of InterstellOr's first space tourists, designated as passenger 009.

The emergence of companies like InterstellOr reflects a broader shift in China's space strategy, which is increasingly embracing private enterprises alongside its state-led programs. Another notable player, CAS Space, a spinoff from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has also outlined plans for suborbital space tourism with journeys to the edge of space slated to begin in 2028. These developments underscore China's growing capabilities and aspirations in the commercial space industry, aiming to make space travel a reality for a wider range of individuals.