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Zhongke-Orbit Space Tourism Vehicle

Beijing Zhongke Aerospace Exploration Technology Co., Ltd. (“ Zhongke Aerospace ” ) and Zhuhai Orbit Aerospace Technology Co., Ltd. (“Orbit” ) signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement in Zhuhai in September 2021. The two parties will promote space tourism in China using a vehicle that combines features of Blue Origin [capsule] and SpaceX [egg-crate fins], with Chinese characteristics under modern conditions. Development and remote sensing satellite constellation construction two major business areas to carry out in-depth cooperation to accelerate the innovation and application of aerospace high-tech. Orbit will provide a series of supporting services for the space tourism equipment of Zhongke Aerospace, such as aerospace chip core components, remote sensing satellite data and AI algorithm service, AI hardware system support, etc.

Zhongke Aerospace Chairman Yang Yiqiang, CFO Fan Na, Orbit Chairman Yan Jun, Executive Deputy General Manager Jiang Xiaohua, and Chairman Assistant Zhang Qiangzhi attended the signing ceremony.

Branch Aerospace suborbital space tourism vehicles using a single-stage rocket and tourist cabin combinations, rocket diameter 3.35 m , with 5 sets of 15t grade liquid oxygen kerosene engine, takeoff thrust of 75t , a takeoff weight of 70t ; tourist cabin diameter 3.35 m , height 3m , 4 panoramic portholes, a single flight can take 7 passengers.

Zhongke Aerospace completed the demonstration test of the launch vehicle recovery principle prototype and the full-system test run of the 15-ton "Xuanyuan" liquid rocket engine, and is developing a new generation of reusable liquid launch vehicle and returnable travel cabin. It is planned to carry out the first suborbital flight demonstration test in 2022, unmanned suborbital flight in 2023 , and suborbital tourism services from 2024. It is estimated that nearly 1,000 passengers can be transported into space every year. With the price of space tourism continuous improvement and adjustment, space tourism is expected to become a reality.

The landing site for the launch and recovery of the craft will be planned and constructed as a whole with the aerospace theme park, space experience hall and aerospace science education base. Passengers will receive short-term training here before flying. During the 10- minute flight, passengers will traverse the 100km von Karman line and experience the weightlessness of getting rid of the gravity of the earth in 3 minutes. Finally, the travel cabin landed safely by parachuting, and the passengers returned to the earth safely. At present, there are about 500 people in the world who have entered the moon, space stations and suborbitals . According to international practice, passengers who participate in suborbital tourism can be awarded the title of " astronaut".

At the same time, the craft is designed strictly in accordance with the manned space regulations. Even if it fails, the travel cabin uses its own engine system to escape, push the travel cabin away from the rocket, and activate the self-landing system to return to the ground safely.