China to develop a complex aerospace vehicle

Almaty. August 3. Silkroadnews – China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation is developing an aerospace vehicle to simplify significantly space flights for ordinary people in the future and reduce dramatically such flights costs, “People’s Daily” writes.

“The vehicle will integrate air-breathing engines, such as turbine and ramjet engines, and rocket engine and other”, the newspaper writes.

Vice President of Research and Development Center under China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Zhang Yong explains, if we compare the integrated driving power and traditional rocket ones, a subject of development is a completely new type of aerospace vehicle, in a broad sense it will combine different technologies, thus, generating new dynamic capabilities.

Zhang Yong said they expect to master key technologies in about three to five years and by 2030 the objective shall be achieved to use the vehicle for orbital and suborbital flights.

As the researchers note, the new vehicle will be reusable and take off and land at normal airports, without the need for special launch pads like the current rockets require, which will reduce cost substantially.

“Compared with the space shuttles and the partially recovered carrier rockets, the new vehicle has much more advantages in maintenance and application”, the publication says.