'Nebula-1 rocket': China's Deep Blue Aerospace joins space tourism race following SpaceX and Virgin Galactic
Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Deep Blue Aerospace's Ambitious Plans
Chinese launch startup Deep Blue Aerospace announced its intention to provide suborbital tourism flights starting in 2027.
Rocket Development Progress
The company is actively working on its Nebula-1 reusable orbital rocket and is scheduled to conduct a new vertical takeoff, vertical landing (VTVL) test in November.
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Testing Timeline
Following a full orbital flight and recovery planned for 2025, the Nebula-1 rocket will undergo multiple recovery and reuse tests.
Crew Spacecraft Testing
In 2026, Deep Blue Aerospace will conduct extensive tests on its crew spacecraft-rocket combination to ensure the safety and reliability of suborbital manned travel.
Ticket Sales Initiatives
The company has initiated presale for its first two suborbital tickets during a live streaming event on Taobao, with additional tickets expected to be available in the future.
Market Competition
Deep Blue Aerospace acknowledged the progress of Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, and SpaceX in suborbital tourism, while noting other commercial aerospace companies in China are also exploring this market.
Technical Specifications
The suborbital system will consist of a single-stage reusable rocket and a crew spacecraft, designed to reach altitudes between 100 and 150 kilometers, providing passengers with up to 600 seconds of microgravity experience.
Company Background
Established in 2017 and led by Huo Liang, Deep Blue Aerospace is based in Jiangsu Province and secured strategic funding in August. The firm is not alone in its pursuit of suborbital tourism; CAS Space, a spinoff of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is also developing a similar service slated to begin in 2027.