NETHERLAND-BASED Space Expedition Corporation (SXC) has expanded into Asia with the opening a regional head office in Hong Kong.
SXC Asia is looking for partners for sales and marketing initiatives in the region, particularly for the burgeoning China market.
SXC Asia CEO, Alex Tang, said: “More Asians are pursuing novel and exciting experiences. Space travel meets their needs. China is our first stop in Asia for space travel.
“We target to test flights in early 2014 and Lynx Mark I (to soar 60km above sea level) will be operational in mid 2014. Meanwhile, Mark II will commence in mid 2015 taking travellers 100km above sea level. Apart from travel consultants, we will also look into (partnering) private flying clubs, large corporations and even automobile associations.”
Tang declined to disclose any names of potential partners but SXC marketing director, Cees Faes, tipped: “The business model is similar to what we are doing in our New York office. So far, we have global partners like Unilever and KLM.”
The SXC Asia Founder Astronaut Package, priced at US$220,000, is set to woo the first 100 participants in the Asian market to travel on fighter aircraft Mark II. This eight-day, tailor-made package includes perks like a 25-hour Hong Kong-Curacao spaceport private jet transfer; special welcome pack, gala dinner and award ceremony.
So far, 250 people across the world have signed up for the hour-long space journey, with 99 per cent having passed the medical examination, according to SXC, CEO Michiel Mol.
“At this moment, we hardly have any participants from Hong Kong and China. However, as the US government changed regulations at the beginning of this year making it possible for Chinese people to travel to space on US spaceships, we decided to open an office here. In future, we think Greater China might generate at least 30-35 per cent of our total sales.”
