Single- and multi-stage ground-to-orbit passenger and payload lifters, such as:

rockets: single or multi-stage, disposable or re-usable launch vehicles with payload shrouds which may deliver payloads directly to desired altitudes or orbits then de-orbit themselves, or which may boost the payload into low orbit where a second boost then places it into final orbit or trajectory.

scramjets: supersonic combustion airbreathing ramjet used to accelerate payloads into low orbit using an airbreathing or atmospheric vehicle which does not leave the atmosphere itself.

magnetic catapults: on worlds with suitable geography including high mountains and thin atmospheres, a lot magnetic accelerator can act as a high-speed railgun to boost payloads.

high-energy laser lifters: payload capsules can leave the engines at home, and act as a target reflector for laser propulsion provided by ground-based arrays

Orbit-to-ground passenger and payload re-entry vehicles, such as:

capsules: wrap a payload in heat-shielding, add deorbit thrusters and a parasail or parachutes for an economical way to deliver payloads from space to ground.

air-bags / ballutes: Payloads capable of sustaining higher stresses than humans can be delivered to ground using re-entry ballutes and inflatable air-bag systems for touchdowns.

skycranes: Large or delicate payloads can be soft-landed using a multi-jet or multi-rocket payload to retro-fire engines, negate as much landing velocity as needed, then lower the payload to ground using a crane-like winch system.

Vehicles capable of round trips from ground-to-orbit then back from orbit-to-ground due to reusable design and turn-around refurbishing support facilities, including:

shuttles: aerospace vehicles launched “piggyback” on booster rockets, which return and glide or land under their own power.

spaceplanes: aerospace vehicles capable of direct flight from ground to space, and back.

▲ Chronology