High-end tourists from China targeted as Japan’s new ‘space port’ prepares for lift-off
- Spacecraft developer PD AeroSpace is developing an airport on an island in Okinawa prefecture for space tourism by 2025
- The company is eyeing wealthy adventure seekers, particularly those from China, for initial flights that are expected to cost around US$141,000
The company, based in the city of Nagoya in central Japan, has reached an agreement with the Okinawa prefectural government to develop the island’s little-used airport for use as the departure point for its state-of-the-art space plane, as well as landing facilities for returning tourists.
“We plan to target people from across Asia and we believe there are a lot of people who would very much like to go into space if only the price of a flight was lower,” said Ryo Ojima from PD Aerospace’s business development department. He confirmed the company was “targeting people from China” for its flights, but said they would take anyone who wants to experience space.
Ojima said initial flights would last for about 90 minutes and reach an altitude of 100km, which the World Air Sports Federation has set as the boundary between the atmosphere and space. For five minutes, passengers will be able to experience the weightless conditions of astronauts, while the journey will provide stunning views of the Earth.
“We are aiming to reach 100km because that is what is known as the Karman line, or the ‘gateway to the universe’,” he said.