Race to near space: Superfast flight

Chinese aerospace researchers are pushing the limits in a new sphere - near space - which promises superfast vehicles for passengers, business and military use.

Nearly half of the 24 entries in the final round of the Third National Design Contest on Future Aircraft and Space Planes, held in Beijing on Monday, had to do with flight in near space.

A total of 284 entries from space institutes, universities and military research establishments across the country, took part in the competition jointly organized by the Chinese Society of Astronautics and the general design department of the Third Academy of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp.