On the 10th of January 2014, Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo completed it's third powered test flight. Courtesy: Virgin Galactic <\/p>\n
CHINESE nationals have been banned from boarding Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic space flights - in case they steal the rocket technology. <\/p>\n
Tycoons from China have been told they cannot be among the space tourists because of anti-espionage regulations in the US, from where the British firm's first commercial flights are due to take off later this year. <\/p>\n
Sir Richard Branson dons the space suit travellers will wear on their galactic adventure aboard Virgin Galactic flights into space. Source: News Limited <\/p>\n
Ironically, the ban comes as Britain opens its doors to Chinese involvement in the nuclear and telecom industries and considers asking China to build the new high-speed rail network. <\/p>\n
But because Virgin's craft has a rocket engine, it is seen as potentially military technology by the US's International Traffic in Arms Regulations. <\/p>\n
These rules, introduced in the Cold War, bar people from countries such as China, Iran and North Korea from having access to weapons technology. <\/p>\n
The restriction freezes out a huge market in China, where wealthy entrepreneurs are willing to pay the $250,000 ticket price for a space flight. Some 600 people worldwide have already put down deposits. <\/p>\n
\"We have had calls from people in China but we have to tell them we can't accept them if they only have a Chinese passport,\" said a Virgin Galactic salesman based in Hong Kong. <\/p>\n
\"We advise them on how they can make themselves eligible for a space tour. For example, they can get another nationality's passport or they can apply for a (US) Green Card.\" <\/p>\n
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Space flight ban on Chinese tourists<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" On the 10th of January 2014, Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo completed it's third powered test flight. Continue reading