Spaceplanes From Airport to Spaceport presents a coherent, lucid, and optimistic picture of the future of the near future. Space vehicles may soon take offfrom international airports and refuel in space. New technologies could allowflights to take off regularly between the Earth and the Moon. The technical details presented explain precisely how all this can be accomplished within thenext few decades. This book also explains why the Space Tourist market could easily become the single most important factor in the mid-term future development of space transportation. In a few years it will be possible to board a spaceplane and fly into Earth orbit, and perhaps visit a space station. Later development could include refuelling in orbit to take a tour of cislunar space. The book's solid engineering foundation will be of interest to both space exploration enthusiasts and future space travelers. An indispensable resource for those interested in Space Tourism, a rapidliy growing new field with thousands of rides already booked in sub-orbital spaceplanes Discusses engineering as well as commercial aspects of spaceplanes and space travel Provides a complete and non-mathematical overview that is fully accessible to lay readers INDICE: Introduction.- Why Spaceplanes?- Spaceplanes Have Arrived.- RocketScience – with Wings.- Missiles, Modules, and Moonplanes.- Suborbital Spaceplanes.- Ballistic Spaceplanes.- Piggyback to Orbit.- Single Stage to Orbit – Real Spaceplanes.- Lunar Spaceplanes.- Technical Hurdles.- Non-Technical Barriers.- Strategies for Success.- Glossary.- Spaceplane Mathematics.- Index.
- ISBN: 978-0-387-76509-9
- Editorial: Springer
- Encuadernacion: Rústica
- Páginas: 210
- Fecha Publicación: 01/08/2008
- Nº Volúmenes: 1
- Idioma: Inglés