China's First Commercial Crewed Spacecraft Nears Reality with RMB 3 Million Tickets

The prospect of commercial spaceflight in China is transitioning from theoretical discussions to concrete bookings. InterstellOr, a commercial space company founded in January 2023, has announced that actor Johnny Huang Jingyu has secured ticket number 009 for its upcoming InterstellOr-1 (CYZ1) spacecraft. This follows the company's ticket pre-sales launch, with each seat priced at RMB 3 million (approximately USD 417,000) requiring a 10% deposit for reservation.

The company reports that over a dozen paying customers from diverse sectors—including academia, business, aerospace, arts, entertainment, and the influencer community—have already signed contracts. Notable confirmations include Qiu Heng, CMO of AgiBot, who has been designated "China's No. 001 Commercial Astronaut" after purchasing the first commercial spaceflight ticket in 2023. Other confirmed participants span from Li Liteng, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, to Chinese-American poet Lin Xiaoyan, and Xie Meng, Vice Chairman and CEO of Guangzhou Grandview Group.

InterstellOr's technical progress appears to be moving in parallel with its commercial preparations. On January 18, the company completed an integrated validation test of the landing buffer system for the full-scale CYZ1 crew capsule test module. According to InterstellOr, this represents China's first full-scale commercial crewed spacecraft test focused specifically on landing buffer technology, positioning the company as the world's third commercial space entity to independently develop and validate such a system.

The InterstellOr-1 spacecraft is scheduled to conduct its first crewed flight in 2028, which would make it China's first commercial crewed spacecraft. The company aims to complete development of a reusable suborbital crewed spacecraft within three to four years, with the goal of enabling space tourism in China and potentially across Asia around 2028.

For context, commercial space tourism has been primarily dominated by international companies like Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin, with suborbital flights typically costing between $200,000 and $450,000. China's entry into this market represents a significant development in the global commercial space sector, particularly given the country's substantial investment in space technology and its growing commercial space ecosystem.

The pricing of RMB 3 million places InterstellOr's offering in the upper tier of commercial space tourism, comparable to established international offerings. The 10% deposit requirement suggests the company is implementing a serious reservation system rather than merely accepting expressions of interest.

InterstellOr describes itself as China's first commercial crewed spaceflight technology company, focusing on reusable crewed spacecraft and space tourism operations. The company's progress with landing buffer system validation indicates it is addressing one of the critical technical challenges in crewed spaceflight—safe return and landing of passengers.

The involvement of figures from China's technology and academic sectors, including AgiBot's CMO and engineering academicians, suggests that early adopters may be viewing this not just as a tourism experience but as an opportunity to engage with emerging space technology. Qiu Heng's statement about humanoid and quadruped robots potentially accelerating applications in industry and commerce reflects the broader technological ecosystem that commercial spaceflight could enable.

InterstellOr's timeline of 2028 for the first crewed flight represents an ambitious schedule for a company founded in 2023. The development of a reusable suborbital crewed spacecraft within three to four years would require significant technical achievements in spacecraft design, life support systems, and safety protocols. The company's progress with landing buffer system testing suggests it is addressing these challenges systematically.

The commercial space tourism market has seen growing interest globally, with companies like SpaceX offering orbital tourism experiences at significantly higher price points. China's entry into this market through a domestic commercial company represents a strategic development in the country's space industry, which has traditionally been state-dominated.

InterstellOr's approach of starting with suborbital flights aligns with the typical progression in commercial spaceflight, where companies like Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin began with suborbital experiences before considering orbital flights. The company's focus on reusable spacecraft is also consistent with industry trends toward cost reduction through reusability.

The company's stated goal of enabling space tourism across Asia suggests potential regional expansion plans beyond China. This could position InterstellOr as a major player in the Asian commercial space market, which represents a significant portion of the global population and has growing interest in space technology.

The validation of landing buffer systems is particularly important for crewed spacecraft safety. Landing systems must reliably absorb the impact of touchdown while protecting passengers from excessive g-forces. InterstellOr's claim of being the third commercial company globally to independently develop and validate such a system places it in select company alongside established international players.

As InterstellOr moves toward its 2028 target for the first crewed flight, the company will need to demonstrate not only technical capability but also regulatory compliance, safety certification, and operational readiness. The early interest from high-profile individuals and business leaders provides both financial support and public visibility, which could be crucial for a commercial space venture in its early stages.

The commercial space tourism market continues to evolve, with each new entrant bringing different approaches to pricing, safety, and customer experience. InterstellOr's entry into this market represents a significant development for China's commercial space sector and could accelerate the broader adoption of space tourism in Asia.