Esa launches IXV 'spaceplane'

The European Space Agency (Esa) has launched its unmanned mini "spaceplane" demonstrator.

The unmanned, wedge-shaped IXV could provide Europe with a re-useable space vehicle in the coming years.

Wednesday's flight was designed to test key technologies.

The demonstrator blasted off on a Vega rocket from South America just after 13:40 GMT.