China is considering the possibility of launching spacecraft with the help of aircraft

Chinese news agency China Daily informs , that in the Middle Kingdom study the feasibility of using an air start for small space vehicles. With the help of aircraft it is planned to launch launch vehicles, which, in turn, will launch satellites into Earth's orbit.

The idea itself is far from new - in the 70s of the last century such technology was considered by specialists of the United States and the USSR, but due to various technical problems it was not widely used. The fact that such research and development is conducted in China, said Li Tonggyu, head of the missile building department of the Chinese Academy of Missile Engineering.

As a launching platform, it is planned to use a strategic Y-20 aircraft, or a similar transport vehicle, whose production and supply began the previous summer. The payload of such an aircraft is 66 tons, so it is theoretically possible to take a solid-fuel carrier rocket on board as a cargo, it is quite capable. If the project can be implemented, it will help to start without spaceports and significantly reduce the time required to prepare for the start.

The article is based on materials https://hi-news.ru/research-development/kitaj-rassmatrivaet-vozmozhnost-zapuska-kosmicheskix-apparatov-s-pomoshhyu-samolyotov.html.