Beijing start-up plans to offer 'low-cost' space travel in ultra-high balloon

A private mainland company plans to offer near-space tourism for ordinary people in a high altitude balloon, according to a Beijing newspaper.

Passengers would ascend to 40,000 metres in a pressurised capsule, where they would enjoy not just the spectacular view of the earth's curvature set against a backdrop of deep, dark space, but a few moments of reduced gravity, according to Spacevision, a start-up in Beijing, The Mirror reported.

The project was still in its "design phase" while the launch date and ticket prices were yet to be determined.

The extreme balloon ride would also face hurdles such as safety laws and the government's strict regulation of civilian air space, a mainland space expert said.

According to the report, the capsule would be carried up by a balloon filled with non-toxic and non-flammable helium and descend under a large parachute.

Passengers would also be equipped with special parachutes and jumpsuits supplied with oxygen that would enable them to bail out of the capsule at high altitude.