China may be making strides in its space program, but India is hot on its heels. The country has test launched its first ever domestically-produced reusable space shuttle.

The nine-meter-long rocket took off from a space center on Sriharikota island off the southeastern coast. Scientists are using the rocket to monitor factors such as autonomous landing and hypersonic speed.

The vehicle will be directed to splashdown in the Bay of Bengal on its return to Earth but will not be recovered by the research team. Subsequent flights will see scientists aim for a touch down on land.

The reusable technology was developed in an attempt to cut costs of launching satellites into space.