The European Space Agency is making the final preparations for its first ever space-plane launch on Wednesday.br br The IXV, short for Intermediate Experimental Vehicle, would give Europe its very own shuttle-like, re-usable space vehicle.br br The mission will provide data vital to eventually develop technology for a sample return mission to Mars or to shuttle astronauts back from the International Space Station.br br This is where the heart beats with regard to tomorrow's flight: The #IXV Mission Control Centre in Torino, IT. pic.twitter.comC0IYjwF9WO— ESA IXV (@esaixv) February 10, 2015br br br On February 11, the prototype IXV will undertake a 100 minute unmanned test flight. Taking off from Kourou, French Guiana it will coast up to 420km before beginning the crucial re-entry phase.br br “Now the important thing to keep in mind is that this really is an experimental test flight and anything could happen,” Euronews’ space expert Jeremy Wilks explains.