The new designs for future space exploration are aiming for cheaper, more reliable, and more efficient means of propulsion. Some of these new designs are powered by sources other than chemical sources. Many of those new designs involve systems on the nuclear and atomic levels. Some of these new designs create immense amounts of energy at one time while others are a small but continuous source of acceleration.
Ion propulsion design
New liquid propelled design
Nuclear powered design
Ion and nuclear design
New designs in launch platforms are looking towards cheaper reuseable designs that in the near future will be able to carry personel to a space station on a regular basis, almost like a commercial airliner. These new designs use a fuselage shape called a "lifting body" design. With this new shape, the space-craft does not have or need conventional wings to create lift while in flight.
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