Trip.com announces luxury space tourism package with Virgin Galactic

Trip.com Group, through its luxury subsidiary HHtravel, has announced a suborbital space tourism package in collaboration with the US-based company Virgin Galactic. The luxury itinerary is priced at 5.1 million yuan (approximately 20 billion VND).

The six-day program includes three days of training at Spaceport America near Las Cruces, New Mexico. On the fifth day, passengers will board a Virgin Galactic spacecraft for a 90-minute suborbital flight, which features several minutes of weightlessness and views of the Earth's curvature.

The package covers pre-flight training, ground transportation, premium accommodation in the US, custom spacesuits, and a commemorative video. However, travelers are responsible for their own round-trip airfare to the US, visas, and specialized spaceflight insurance.

Experts note that the service targets a very niche market, requiring participants to possess significant liquidity, high risk tolerance, and exceptional physical health. While the current price remains inaccessible to most consumers, analysts suggest that advancements in Chinese rocket and space exploration technology may lead to more affordable space travel in the future.