Radian One Spaceplane

There are plenty of companies racing to put people in space. Radian, with its Radian One Spaceplane, is using a different approach than most. The One uses a two-mile-long rail sled system to achieve liftoff, resulting in a more comfortable, jet-like experience for passengers. Its winged design allows it to maneuver more like a jet, as well, letting it glide to a runway just like a plane. Once the infrastructure is in place, the plane will be able to travel at near orbital speeds, making long-range trips shockingly quick: for example, a flight from NYC to Sydney could take as little as two hours. While the company has already flown a one-tenth demonstrator version, full-scale flights aren't planned until 2028, with no timeline for passenger use.