TEMPO.CO, New Delhi - India has launched an unmanned spaceship model into orbit. The launch marks the joining of India in a spaceship race capable of being used multiple times.

The 7 meter-scaled model was launched from Andhra Pradesh and is expected to fly approximately 70km to the atmosphere before falling into the ocean. India expects to launch a full-scaled spaceship within the next decade.

There is a fierce international competition to design reusable spaceships after NASA halted its Space Shuttle program in 2011.

India Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV-TD) was launched on Monday morning from a launch site in Sriharikota. The ship is designed to allow Indian Space Research Organization (Isro) to collect critical data on hypersonic speed and autonomous landing.

This model was developed over the last five years spending a budget of 1 million rupee (US$ 14.9 million). A reusable spaceship and rocket allows various countries to significantly reduce exploration cost into outer space.

Since the US has stopped its space shuttle program, private companies like SpaceX owned by billionaire Elon Musk and Blue Origin owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos have tried to fill the gap.

Japan, Europe, and Russia are also in the testing phase for a similar technology.

BBC | ERWIN Z.