Modi’s Mini-Shuttle Set to Blast Into Elon Musk’s Race for Space
- India to launch scale model of reusable space vehicle Monday
- Goal is a winged vessel capable of cost-effective missions
India Launches Mini Space Shuttle
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India is set to launch a scale model of a reusable spacecraft on Monday, a project that in time could pit the nation against billionaires Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk in the race to make access to space cheaper and easier.
The winged vessel -- one-fifth of full size -- is due to blast off on a rocket from Sriharikota base on the southeastern coast, reach an altitude of 70 kilometers (43 miles) and glide back at supersonic speeds to Earth for a splashdown in the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Space Research Organisation said.