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.
一家被稱為“中國SpaceX”的公司概要介紹了斥資15億美元建造一個太空旅游和未來科技主題公園的計劃。該集團正準備為亞洲首個近太空旅游項目進行載人試驗。
Hong Kong-listed KuangChi Science has already conducted unmanned tests for a high-altitude balloon called the Traveller. It is equipped with communications and weather-monitoring components, but is also intended to take tourists to 24km above the earth.
在香港上市的光啟科學(xué)(KuangChi Science)已經(jīng)完成了“旅行者”號(Traveller)高空氣球的無人駕駛試驗。這種高空氣球裝載著通信和天氣監(jiān)測設(shè)備,但也打算將游客送上24千米的高空。
Manned tests are planned over the next two years, the company said.
光啟科學(xué)稱,將在未來兩年內(nèi)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.
中國媒體將光啟科學(xué)董事長劉若鵬稱為“中國的埃隆•馬斯克”(Elon Musk),后者是特斯拉(Tesla)和SpaceX的創(chuàng)始人。
Shenzhen-based KuangChi is developing a range of what it calls “future technologies”, including a powered exoskeleton suit. 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.
總部位于深圳的光啟科學(xué)正在開發(fā)一系列“未來技術(shù)”,包括一款動力外骨骼。它在海外收購了幾家技術(shù)公司,還設(shè)立了一支5000萬美元、專門投資以色列高科技初創(chuàng)企業(yè)的投資基金,計劃很快設(shè)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.
雖然光啟科學(xué)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——但它躋身于數(shù)個私營部門項目之列,旨在把休閑旅客送上兩倍于商業(yè)飛機飛行高度的高空。
The plans come as SpaceX has suffered a series of challenges. 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.
光啟科學(xué)公布上述計劃之際,SpaceX遇到了一系列挑戰(zhàn)。上周,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(fā)射臺上發(fā)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.
光啟科學(xué)的母公司光啟集團(Kuang-Chi group)表示,計劃在中國杭州建造的這座太空旅游和未來科技主題公園,將展示各種技術(shù),包括一種能讓游客們感覺到自己正在乘坐“旅行者”號氣球游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. It also bought a stake in a Canadian company that produces a hybrid aircraft called Solar Ship.
創(chuàng)立于2010年的光啟科學(xué),去年收購了個人飛行器制造商Martin Jetpack的多數(shù)股權(quán)。它還收購了生產(chǎn)混合動力飛機的加拿大廠商Solar Ship的部分股份。