Interstellar, a private Chinese startup, plans to send tourists to the edge of space by 2028 for 3 million yuan per seat. About 20 people have already signed up; its CYZ1 suborbital spacecraft will carry up to seven passengers about 100 kilometers above Earth.

The announcement sparked a flurry of interest on Chinese social media, with many welcoming China’s entry into space tourism, while others raised concerns about safety and the high cost. Experts say suborbital flights are technically easier than orbital travel, but require rigorous safety testing and multiple successful trials before they can carry paying passengers.

Suborbital space tourism is already operating in the US through Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin, but tickets there remain very expensive. However, experts believe that prices will drop significantly over time as technology improves and flights become more common.