NASA’s space engineers are designing a new spacecraft for human travelers for the first time in 30 years. It’s called the “Orbital Space Plane” (OSP), and will take 6 or 7 years to become operational. It is based on the X-38 space plane but can carry up to 7 passengers. The OSP will orbit Earth, dock with the space station, remain as a lifeboat, and return to Earth with crew and cargo. OSP will be reusable, like the Space Shuttle. NASA plans to build 3 or 4 OSP. The OSP will be launched by a new type of expendable booster rocket already in use at Cape Canaveral.

The OSP is designed with the shape of a small winged, sliced bullet tested 40 years ago. It is similar to the Apollo and Gemini capsules. The new shape allows for gentler decelerations and more accurate landings than the old capsule shapes were able to accomplish.