BEIJING (Sputnik) — The development of the spacecraft equipped with three types of engines — turbine, ramjet and rocket engines — will be carried out by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), CCTV broadcaster reported.
According to the developers, this combination will allow for controlling the spacecraft in the atmosphere as a conventional aircraft and as a rocket in open space. It is expected that the spacecraft will be reusable with an ability to take off and land at conventional airports. This will significantly reduce its maintenance costs because it will not require a special launch site.
