had the Space Shuttle and we have the X-37B spaceplane which can be deemed a hypersonic system because when it returns from space, it’s going a very high speeds,” he said. To be sure, a space vehicle that orbits the Earth, reenters the atmosphere at hypersonic speed and glides to its intended target area is not new technology, said Robert Bakos, principal and co-owner of Innoveering, a company that specializes in propulsion technology used in hypersonic vehicles. One way or the other, experts said, these tests show China’s notable advances in reusable space technology. The Chinese government said this week that these were routine space test missions, not a demonstration of a new military weapon. as it could further fuel an escalating arms race.
WASHINGTON - China’s reported tests of a hypersonic orbital glide vehicle have sparked alarm in the U.S. Whether the Chinese tested a weapon or just a reusable space vehicle is impossible to know without seeing the test data, said an industry expert
