China Says It Conducted A Successful Suborbital Test Of A Reusable Spaceplane
The Chinese spaceplane test appears to be linked to ostensibly commercial endeavors, but could have military applications.
The Chinese spaceplane test appears to be linked to ostensibly commercial endeavors, but could have military applications.
The China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics, or CAAA, has released pictures and a brief video showing a wind tunnel test of a model of a two-stage-to-orbit space launch system involving a fast- and high-flying mothership aircraft that carries a reusable spacecraft on top of its fuselage. Though this general concept has been around for decades, there has been a major resurgence of interest in it around the world in recent years amid growing demand for flexible, rapid, and unpredictable space launch options.
The pin design shares numerous similarities to an equally curious unnamed drone that China unveiled at the biennial Zhuhai Airshow in 2018.
China is investing heavily in penetrating unmanned aircraft with a possible eye toward developing a drone that will fly from one its future carriers.