Back in the 1990's, NASA with Lockheed Martin worked on an experimental new design for Reusable space vehicle. Unfortunately, the project was abandoned at the beginning of the 2000's. Today, I'm still puzzled as to why NASA is returning with rockets with small capsules instead of investing in a much long term vehicle. They could have reopened the X-33 project, update it with today's technologies and designs. I see way more potential for this kind of larger vehicle than a small capsule, even for long distance travel. I know some will say that these type of vehicle were designed only for orbital travel, but I say that if we weren't so reluctant in investing in nuclear powered engines, we might be able to make larger vehicle such as these go farther. This design, in my opinion, allows for much more possibilities to both the future lunar and mars mission than small space capsule.
In any case, this is only my point of view and I'm still supporting the ongoing work done by the space agencies. The earth is a boat and like every boat, it will one day sink or become unable to support its passenger, therefore for the future of mankind we must seek other horizons. (again that's my point of view).... and no one can deny that space explorations has been a point of unification between nations, because, out there, human must work together to survive, therefore conflict doesn't have a place there.
Bumblebee Aerospace
3moGreat work Swift Engineering Hamed Khalkhali, Ph.D., MBA