Europe's mini-space shuttle returns

[Bosonic]

Source: BBC

An unmanned European Space Agency (Esa) mini-space shuttle has splashed down in the Pacific Ocean nearly two hours after launching.

The IXV spaceplane resembles a smaller, robotically controlled version of the US space shuttle and could provide Europe with a new, re-useable space transportation system.

It blasted off on a Vega rocket from South America just after 13:40 GMT.

The test could inform future technology for landing payloads on Mars.

Read more: http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-31421200

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[Fred Sanders]

1. Fascinating. A spaceship airliner? Too bad America is falling behind the world in yet another area.

Privatizing space launches is similar to privatizing the military.

Not a good idea, the profit motive will always interfere with good science.