Europe's mini 'spaceplane' launches

The European Space Agency (Esa) has launched its unmanned mini "spaceplane" demonstrator, the BBC reports.

The Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) blasted off on a Vega rocket from South America just after 13:40 GMT.

The test vehicle is due to fly east around the globe, before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean some 100 minutes after launch.

The wedge-shaped craft is designed to gather information on how space objects fall back to Earth.

Engineers will be gathering data as the "mini-shuttle" falls back down to Earth.

They could use the results to inform a range of future technologies from re-usable rockets to Mars landers.

By the time it re-enters the atmosphere, the craft should be moving at 7.5km/s. As it pushes up against the air, the temperatures on its leading surfaces will soar to 1,700C.

Flaps and thrusters will be used to control the trajectory, ensuring the IXV comes down close to a recovery ship some 3,000km west of the Galapagos Islands.

A parachute system deployed in the very late stages of the flight will put the two-ton vehicle gently in the water. Floatation balloons will come out to stop it from sinking.