Wired News: No Wings? No Chutes? No Problem

"Space agencies around the world, take note: The burgeoning private space industry isn't content to follow your lead.

At least three space tourism startups are building spacecraft that forgo the wing-and-parachute landing systems used by space shuttles and space capsules in favor of retrorockets. These rockets will slow down the new spacecraft enough to land gently on their feet, UFO-style." (full article at link)
--