China spaceplane

China is proposing to have a space plane by 2020

There are two Chinese programs for a space plane

The secret military "experimental space plane" project that has had two launches so far first in 2020 and then 2022.

A more ambitious commercial passenger version space plane that of 2022 has not progressed much

In Sept 2016 designs of a new space plane, which could fly up to 20 passengers to the edge of space each day, have been revealed.

The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology in Beijing designed the plane, and presented its ideas at the International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico 2016. The researchers presented two ideas. The first design weighs in at 10 tonnes and has a wingspan of 6 metres.

This smaller version should be able to fly five people to an altitude of 62 miles (100 km), where space officially begins, and letting passengers experience 2 minutes of weightlessness.

The second design was for a scaled up 100-tonne version, with a 40 foot (12 metre) wingspan, could fly 20 people to 80 miles (130 km), giving 4 minutes of weightlessness.

hybrid

At the current time ( Aug 2016) not much is known

China Hybrid Spacecraft July 2016

China begins developing hybrid spacecraft

China has launched a program to develop hybrid spacecraft. The vehicle is expected to make space travel much cheaper if it proves successful.

According to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the new vehicle will be powered by multiple engines in different phases of the flight into orbit.

These engines include turbine, ramjet and rocket. The core technique is using the air's oxygen as an oxidiser to create power.

Researchers say the hybrid launch vehicle will be mainly used for expeditions of between dozens to hundreds of kilometers from the earth.

"We have made a long-term plan of taking about three to five years to master the key technologies, and significantly improve the capability of the spacecraft during the application," said Zhang Yong, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp..

"We aim to implement the technology in suborbital flight and orbital insertion by 2030."