China plans to build a giant rail gun to launch hypersonic planes longer than a Boeing 737 into space - as Beijing ramps up race to the moon

Chinese scientists are working on constructing a giant electromagnetic rail gun that will be used to launch 50 tonne hypersonic planes into space.

Engineers and scientists in China have been working on the project - named Tengyun - since 2016, but following a recent series of significant advances made in both electromagnetic launch and hypersonic flight, they believe that soon, people could be sent into space.

The rail gun will essentially be a giant electromagnetic launch track used to accelerate a hypersonic aircraft to Mach 1.6 - meaning it will be travelling at almost twice the speed of sound (Mach 2).

Weighing 50 tonnes, the mammoth planes are set to be longer than a Boeing 737 at over 129ft. 

Following the launch, the aircraft would then separate from the track, ignite its engine and enter space.

Scientists and engineers in China are working together to create a new space launch method that combines hypersonic flight and electromagnetic launch technology

If the project is successful, the new technology could reduce launch costs to a fraction of the current price.

This makes it an attractive peice of technology for companies such as NASA and SpaceX - who still haven't cracked the code to successfully building an electromagnetic launch to this scale.

But creating these futuristic machines hasn't been simple.

Relying solely on the plane's own power for lift-off would require a significant amount of fuel and the team also faced difficulties in finding a way to combat the dangers of a low-speed take-off.

Engineers and scientists were then forced to make compromises in aerodynamic design and engine layout that affect the machines high-speed flight efficiency.

This is not the first time China have put forth projects of this nature - although many of them did not leave the drawing board.

But this time the scientists working on the Tengyun project are confident the current issues they are facing can be solved.

'Electromagnetic launch technology provides a promising solution to overcome these challenges and has emerged as a strategic frontier technology being pursued by the world's leading nations,' wrote team lead scientist Li Shaowei, in a paper published in journal Acta Aeronautica on February 6.

To test the theory, China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) will be using the 1.2 mile long low-vacuum track high-speed maglev test facility in Datong.

Tests will be carried out at 1.2 mile long low-vacuum track high-speed maglev test facility in Datong, generally used when researching magnetic levitation train technology

The original purpose of the lab was to provide a key test platform for the low-vacuum tube magnetic levitation train technology.

But because the facility can propel heavy objects to speeds of up to 1,000km/h, scientists are now using the base for aerospace testing.

Within coming years, the Datong test facility will be extended to 37.2 miles long, to achieve a maximum operating speed of a staggering 5,000km/h.

The lab is considered one of the most 'ambitious electromagnetic propulsion facilties on the planet' according to SCMP,  which is why it will now be used to gather crucial scientific data for the space electromagnetic launch project.

China is not the only coutry to explore the creation of an electromagnetic space launch system and hypersonic planes, with NASA and the US Navy previously attempting to successfully bring the concept to life.

In the 1990s, NASA tried to build a mini test line of 49ft but only managed to complete around 32ft due to technical difficulties and lack of funds.

The ambitious project was eventually scrapped and military officials put their resources towards developing low-speed electromagnetic catapult technology instead.

The US Navy implemented the technology into the USS Ford but have publicly acknowledged the high failure rate of the electromagnetic catapult system.

Now, the US has shifted its focus once more, to work on the development of rail guns and hypersonic missiles.

China is continuing to make breakthroughs in their electromagnetic rail gun research, however, staying ahead of the game with their high-performance power supplies, precision control technology, and the development of electronic devices capable of resisting strong electromagnetic interference.