Combined paper and aluminum space plane model for use in wind tunnel, (a) before and (b) after being set up inside the test section. Credit: Acta Astronautica (2025). DOI: ...

To get started, all you need is a standard A4 sheet of paper and the folding skills of a 4-year-old. Reading time 3 minutes Building a spacecraft could one day be as simple as folding a piece of paper ...

X-37B spaceplane is secretive and operates in orbit for research and testing, competing with China. Spaceplanes operate in space and air, land accurately on runways, but need a rocket launch.