The Chinese enterprise InterstellOr, active in the space tourism sector, revealed a full-scale experimental mockup of its crewed capsule, designated CYZ1 (ChuanYueZhe 1), and executed ground trials for its landing shock absorption system, as reported by Asia Business Daily on January 22nd.
The CYZ1 capsule is engineered for suborbital trajectories, allowing passengers brief intervals in microgravity. The vehicle is projected to ascend beyond the Kármán line—the internationally recognized boundary of space, situated roughly 100 kilometers above sea level. Subsequent to reaching this altitude, space tourists will experience approximately 5 to 10 minutes of weightlessness before the capsule initiates its return to Earth. The total flight duration is anticipated to be around 20 to 30 minutes.
The interior volume of the CYZ1 cabin measures approximately 25 cubic meters. A central open area is incorporated to facilitate movement while experiencing near-zero gravity conditions. The capsule is designed to accommodate 6 tourists plus one instructor, and its dimensions marginally exceed those of Blue Origin’s American craft, New Shepard. Every flight participant will be afforded a substantial individual window for viewing Earth and the cosmos.
InterstellOr anticipates executing its inaugural crewed launches in 2028. According to the company, over 20 individuals have already registered interest in participating in these missions, including entrepreneurs, investors, engineers, creative professionals, and prominent social media influencers. Chinese actor Huang Jingyu is confirmed as one of the passengers, scheduled to fly under designation 009, as publicized by the state news agency ECNS.
The cost for a suborbital flight ticket is pegged at roughly 3 million Yuan, equating to approximately 430,000 US dollars. Securing a reservation necessitates an initial deposit equivalent to 10% of the total fare. Furthermore, the company previously announced that poet Lin Xiaoyan will be the first female of Chinese descent to participate in such a commercial voyage.
A distinctive feature of this initial mission will be the inclusion of not only human occupants but also the humanoid robot PM01, developed by EngineAI, based in Shenzhen. This robot, unveiled in late 2024, is recognized for demonstrating sophisticated motor skills. During the flight, it will serve as an experimental platform to investigate robotic functionality under microgravity conditions. In doing so, InterstellOr aligns itself with the global trend of sending humanoid agents into space, following similar endeavors conducted by NASA, Roscosmos, Japan, and India.
Following the initial launch in 2028, InterstellOr intends to rapidly escalate its operational tempo. The company aims to achieve weekly suborbital flights by 2030, a scaling objective expected to lead to ticket price reductions. By 2032, the startup plans to debut a second-generation vehicle capable of reaching low Earth orbit at an altitude near 400 kilometers. Concurrently, development is underway for a fully autonomous “astronaut robot” in partnership with the Shiyun company.
InterstellOr is not the sole entity navigating the emergent Chinese space tourism market. CAS Space, affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Deep Blue Aerospace, focusing on reusable rocket technology, are also advancing suborbital programs.
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