Imagine traveling from one side of the world to the other without any layovers, missed connections or an endless plane journey. Sounds like an absolute dream, right? That dream could soon become a reality, as a Chinese aerospace company’s working on a winged rocket concept that can fly from New York to Beijing in just one hour.

(Image: Credit)

No need to re-read it or rub your eyes. Certainly, it’ll take an hour, and this is most likely how long it takes you every morning to walk to your workplace. Space Transportation is currently in the process of building a ‘rocket with wings’ that will offer space tourism and unprecedented transport times to countries around the world.

Nowadays, the average flight travel from New York to Beijing lasts for nearly 18 hours. Therefore an hour travel time is a seemingly incomprehensible rate, but when you hear of them taking this short a time, you know that this is possible. Evidently, the flying rocket would reach a speed of 4,184 km/h (2,600 mph), twice as that of Concorde.

(Image: Credit)

According to the company spokesperson, they are working on an aircraft rocket that is more affordable than rockets used to transport satellites and superior to conventional airplanes for high-speed, point-to-point transportation.

We have already discussed how bright the prospects for supersonic travel seem, with several private companies and NASA currently developing projects. This, however, is the first there has been of a flying rocket – and it may, be arriving before too long. Apparently, ground tests will be completed at some point this year. In light of no mishaps, an uncrewed test flight should ideally happen in 2025.

There is a video showing how the aircraft will operate on the website of Space Transportation, a video that answers any questions about the way aircraft works.

The plane separates from the wing-mounted rockets a few seconds after the takeoff. As the plane proceeds with its flight, the wing, boosters, and the external fuel tanks fall back into the launch pad. Next, upon arrival, the aircraft makes a landing using three legs which unfold at the aft or rear section.