The level of the space transportation technologies is closely related with the ability of accessing the space, utilizing the space, and ensuring security and protecting interests in the space. It symbolizes the comprehensive national strength. The reusable space transportation system is an ideal mean to reduce the space launch costs, to improve reliability and safety, and to shorten the turn-around time, as an important component of the future space transportation system. It is an inevitable tendency that the future space transportation system will turn from expendable to reusable. Developing an advanced and reusable space transportation system is of great significance for meeting the needs for the future space exploration and the low cost launch. This paper reviews the development trend of the reusable space transportation technologies. The development route of the future reusable space transportation in China is also discussed from three aspects, including the traditional launch vehicle configuration, the rocket-powered lifting-body configuration and the combined propulsion configuration.

reusable  /  space transportation  /  rocket propulsion  /  combined-propulsion  /  development prospect