SXC launches Asian space flights
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A new space tourism company has officially arrived in Asia, offering the chance for wealthy tourists to take a trip to the edge of the Earth’s atmosphere.
Space Expedition Corporation (SXC) was officially launched in Hong Kong on Monday (8 July 2013), and said it was aiming to generate more customers from the region, “especially in Greater China”. SXC is headed up by CEO Michiel Mol.
“Investment in commercial space products and travel services is growing rapidly and SXC plays a big role in driving the development of the space tourism industry,” said Mol. “As a leader in this space and to stay ahead of the game, it made perfect sense for us to expand geographically to reach prospects in markets like China and Hong Kong, where we see increased curiosity and interest.”
SXC Asia will act as General Sales Agent (GSA) for XCOR Aerospace, which is planning to launch the first commercial space flight by mid-2014. The Lynx Mark II spaceship will take participants to the edge of the Earth’s atmosphere, 100km above sea-level, from where they will be able to see the curvature of the Earth and experience weightlessness. Aboard the Lynx, the participant will sit in the co-pilot seat alongside the pilot-astronaut. The vessel will only be able to seat one passenger at a time, alongside the pilot.
It will then return to Earth, with travellers experiencing 4G atmospheric re-entry forces along the way. The entire trip takes approximately one hour.
The cost of the trip is approximately US$135,000, including all training and business class flights to and from spaceport, which will be in the US or on the Caribbean Island of Curacao.
SXC will be competing with Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic enterprise, which also expects to launch next year. While Virgin Galactic’s space flights will be longer, at approximately two hours, they will also be more expensive, at around US$200,000.
Bangkok-based Khiri Voyages has already been named as SXC’s agent for the Thai market.
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