State-run media outlet Xinhua reports that China just sent a "reusable" spaceship into space.

The Long March 2F rocket took off on its 18th mission, but little is known about the craft it carried.

The test vehicle will be in the air for a period of time before returning to the landing site in China to carry out technical support for the peaceful use of space.

The Chinese didn't say if this was the first or second test of the spaceship. The country launched a suborbital vehicle last year and could be testing a spaceplane.

According to SpaceNews, it could be similar to the Air Force's X-37B spaceplane, which is currently on its sixth mission.

Trouble Ahead

Commercial spaceplanes will be used in 2020 to take humans to the stars. State news reports say that the craft spent two days in space.

China has a long way to go.

The Chinese development of spaceplane technology will be remarkable if they can overcome the problems Dyna-Soar and the Space Shuttle faced.

"We should see spaceplane development as part of China's wider investments in all manner of space technologies, civilian and military, and not as something unique threatening or certain to succeed where others have failed," he said.

The launch of a rocket is delayed because it crashes into a bridge.