Chinese actor Johnny Huang (Huang Jingyu) has been confirmed as one of the participants in China’s first commercial manned spaceflight programme, positioning him as a potential first Chinese celebrity to journey into space.
The announcement was made on January 26 by Beijing InterstellOr Manned Space Technology Co., Ltd., which revealed that Johnny Huang has been selected for the inaugural group of passengers aboard China’s commercial spacecraft, Traveler 1. He has been assigned the exclusive designation “Traveller 009,” with the mission scheduled for 2028.
According to representatives of the programme, Huang’s selection is closely linked to his well-established tough-guy public image, as well as his previous involvement in aerospace-themed science fiction productions, including Sea of Dreams. These factors were said to align with the project’s overall vision.
In a personal statement shared via social media, Huang expressed his gratitude for the opportunity, noting that it would be an honour to experience space travel aboard a domestically developed spacecraft and to explore the cosmos alongside fellow travellers.
The suborbital mission will see Huang and more than 20 other participants fly aboard CYZ-1, crossing the Kármán line—the internationally recognised boundary of outer space—where they are expected to witness Earth from near-orbital altitude.
