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.

一家被称为中国SpaceX的公司概要介绍了斥资15亿美元建造一个太空旅游和未来科技主题公园的计划。该集团正准备为亚洲首个近太空旅游项目进行载人试验。

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

在香港上市的光启科学(KuangChi Science)已经完成了旅行者号(Traveller)高空气球的无人驾驶试验。

It is equipped with communications and weather-monitoring components¹, but is also intended to take tourists to 24km above the earth.

这种高空气球装载着通信和天气监测设备，但也打算将游客送上24千米的高空。

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

光启科学称，将在未来两年内进行载人飞行试验。

Chinese media has dubbed² the company’s chairman, Liu Ruopeng, the Elon Musk³ of China, referring to the founder⁴ of Tesla and SpaceX.

中国媒体将光启科学董事长刘若鹏称为中国的埃隆•马斯克(Elon Musk)，后者是特斯拉(Tesla)和SpaceX的创始人。

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

总部位于深圳的光启科学正在开发一系列未来技术，包括一款动力外骨骼。

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.

它在海外收购了几家技术公司，还设立了一支5000万美元、专门投资以色列高科技初创企业的投资基金，计划很快设立第二支基金。

While its goals are less ambitious than projects such as Virgin⁵ 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.

虽然光启科学的目标没有SpaceX和维珍银河(Virgin Galactic)那样远大——这两家公司希望推动载有旅客的飞船越过海拔100公里的卡门线(Karman Line)、进入正式的太空——但它跻身于数个私营部门项目之列，旨在把休闲旅客送上两倍于商业飞机飞行高度的高空。

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

光启科学公布上述计划之际，SpaceX遇到了一系列挑战。

Its pilotless Falcon⁶ 9 rocket exploded on its Florida launch pad last week, and in June a cargo⁷ flight bound for the International Space Station broke apart in mid-air.

上周，SpaceX的一枚无人驾驶的猎鹰9号(Falcon 9)火箭在佛罗里达州的发射台上发生爆炸；去年6月，SpaceX的一枚火箭在向国际空间站(International Space Station)运输货物途中解体。

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.

光启科学的母公司光启集团(Kuang-Chi group)表示，计划在中国杭州建造的这座太空旅游和未来科技主题公园，将展示各种技术，包括一种能让游客们感觉到自己正在乘坐旅行者号气球游览太空的模拟飞行装置。

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

创立于2010年的光启科学，去年收购了个人飞行器制造商Martin Jetpack的多数股权。

It also bought a stake in a Canadian company that produces a hybrid⁸ aircraft called Solar Ship.

它还收购了生产混合动力飞机的加拿大厂商Solar Ship的部分股份。