Only the space plane itself would re-enter Earth's atmosphere and land.

"But I think those space planes may be in trouble."

But it was a long time before he and Peter took off in a space plane again.

So when we were building a space plane, the next logical step, what happens?

If it is built,the space plane will be about the same size as the shuttle orbiter.

Small incremental gains in performance are not good enough for the space plane.

The space plane will require many more such advances, he and others in the program acknowledge.

The space plane takes off like a standard jet, climbing to 30,000 feet in three minutes.

There is no known Chinese government support beyond very basic research for a space plane.

A space plane, however, would not replace the shuttle altogether, he said.