BEIJING- China is developing its homegrown reusable space plane, whichobservers said could be used to attack foreign aircraft, space stations andeven intercept missiles if used for military purposes.
The reusable spacecraft can transport people or payloads in orbit from anyairport and return to earth, CCTV reported.
Unlike rockets which have to be recycled, the space plane willrevolutionize space transportation, Zhang Hongwen, president of the ThirdAcademy of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) and amember of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s PoliticalConsultative Conference (CPPCC), told CCTV.
Although still at an early stage of research, the space plane will becapable of sending tourists to space, launching satellites and supplyingthe space station, providing emergency space rescue and offering cheap andtimely space launching services, Zhang said.
“It could also be used as a military space plane equipped with detectionand attack devices against foreign spacecraft, satellites and spacestations,” Song Zhongping, a military expert and TV commentator, told theGlobal Times.
Song said that the plane could also intercept ballistic missiles andconduct precision strikes on ground targets.
The CCTV report showed that the space plane is composed of two planes, withthe larger aircraft acting as a carrier aircraft.
A military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times that thecore technology of the larger aircraft is an air-breathing rocket engineusing hydrogen fuel.
Such an engine could liquefy oxygen, and then fuel the aircraft with liquidhydrogen and liquid oxygen while flying in the atmosphere. The liquid fuelcould accelerate the flight in space, with speeds potentially reaching 22times the speed of sound, the expert said.
The larger aircraft, once used as a military aircraft, will be difficult tobe intercepted by current anti-missile systems, he added.
The project, codenamed “Tengyun Project,” was first revealed in 2016, andaccording to the plan, the plane will conduct its first test flight in2030, said Liu Shiquan, vice president of CASIC, the Science and TechnologyDaily reported in December 2016.
In the CCTV report, Zhang also said that China is currently testing anear-space solar drone capable of providing a network and communicationsnot subjected to regional restrictions, and assist in remote sensing imagesand meteorological observation.
“The solar drone is closer to the ground compared with satellites, whichcould better offer monitoring and communications services,” Zhang wasquoted as saying.
The solar drone will be put into use as early as the end of this year, CCTVreported.