中國企業擬建太空旅遊主題公園

China’s homegrown answer to SpaceX has outLined plans to invest $1.5bn in a space travel and future technology theme park, as the group prepares for manned tests of Asia’s first near-space tourism project.

一家被稱爲中國SpaceX的公司概要介紹了斥資15億美元建造一個太空旅遊和未來科技主題公園的計劃。該集團正準備爲亞洲首個近太空旅遊項目進行載人試驗。

Hong Kong-listed KuangChi Science has already conducted unmanned tests for a high-altitude balloon called the Traveller.

在香港上市的光啓科學(KuangChi Science)已經完成了旅行者號(Traveller)高空氣球的無人駕駛試驗。

It is equipped with communications and weather-monitoring components, but is also intended to take tourists to 24km above the earth.

這種高空氣球裝載着通信和天氣監測設備，但也打算將遊客送上24千米的高空。

Manned tests are planned over the next two years, the company said.

光啓科學稱，將在未來兩年內進行載人飛行試驗。

Chinese media has dubbed the company’s chairman, Liu Ruopeng, the Elon Musk of China, referring to the founder of Tesla and SpaceX.

中國媒體將光啓科學董事長劉若鵬稱爲中國的埃隆•馬斯克(Elon Musk)，後者是特斯拉(Tesla)和SpaceX的創始人。

Shenzhen-based KuangChi is developing a range of what it calls future technologies, including a powered exoskeleton suit.

總部位於深圳的光啓科學正在開發一系列未來技術，包括一款動力外骨骼。

It has made several overseas acquisitions and launched a $50m investment fund targeting technology start-ups in Israel, with plans to establish a second fund soon.

它在海外收購了幾家技術公司，還設立了一支5000萬美元、專門投資以色列高科技初創企業的投資基金，計劃很快設立第二支基金。

While its goals are less ambitious than projects such as Virgin Galactic — which aim to propel tourist-laden crafts across the 100km-high Karman line into what is officially considered space — KuangChi is among several private projects attempting to send leisure passengers to twice the altitude of commercial aircraft.

雖然光啓科學的目標沒有SpaceX和維珍銀河(Virgin Galactic)那樣遠大——這兩家公司希望推動載有旅客的飛船越過海拔100公里的卡門線(Karman Line)、進入正式的太空——但它躋身於數個私營部門項目之列，旨在把休閒旅客送上兩倍於商業飛機飛行高度的高空。

The plans come as SpaceX has suffered a series of challenges.

光啓科學公佈上述計劃之際，SpaceX遇到了一系列挑戰。

Its pilotless Falcon 9 rocket exploded on its Florida launch pad last week, and in June a cargo flight bound for the International Space Station broke apart in mid-air.

上週，SpaceX的一枚無人駕駛的獵鷹9號(Falcon 9)火箭在佛羅里達州的發射臺上發生爆炸；去年6月，SpaceX的一枚火箭在向國際空間站(International Space Station)運輸貨物途中解體。

The Kuang-Chi group, parent company of KuangChi Science, said the space and future park it plans to build in the Chinese city of Hangzhou will showcase technologies, including a ride designed to give visitors the sensation of space travel in the Traveller balloon.

光啓科學的母公司光啓集團(Kuang-Chi group)表示，計劃在中國杭州建造的這座太空旅遊和未來科技主題公園，將展示各種技術，包括一種能讓遊客們感覺到自己正在乘坐旅行者號氣球遊覽太空的模擬飛行裝置。

Set up in 2010, the company bought a majority stake last year in Martin Jetpack, which makes an individual flight craft.

創立於2010年的光啓科學，去年收購了個人飛行器製造商Martin Jetpack的多數股權。

It also bought a stake in a Canadian company that produces a hybrid aircraft called Solar Ship.

它還收購了生產混合動力飛機的加拿大廠商Solar Ship的部分股份。