Businessman to be first Chinese space tourist

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-11-27 07:09

A businessman in east China's Zhejiang province will be the first Chinese person to experience the travel in outer-space by the UK-based Virgin Company.

The Company will accept 100 people globally, including two people from the Chinese mainland, to embark on the adventure, Virgin's agent in China said.

The tour will cost travllers more than US$200,000 each and last three and a half hours, with one half hour spent outer space.

During that time, passengers will be able to feel about five minutes of weightlessness and see our planet from an altitude of about 120 kilometers, after which the spacecraft will glide back to Earth.

More than 20 clients have expressed insterest in the tour as of now, according to the organizer.