SPACEFLIGHT REVOLUTION
by David Ashford (Bristol Spaceplanes Limited, UK)
A revolution in spaceflight is likely soon with the prospect of everyday access to orbit within fifteen years. Costly launch vehicles based on ballistic missiles will be replaced by 'spaceplanes', using technology that exists today. In five years' time, a prototype could be built, and with a further ten years of detailed development, the design could approach airliner maturity, reducing the cost of sending people into space some one thousand times to around US$20,000.
Spaceplane development has, in effect, been suppressed by entrenched thinking and short-term vested interests. But the present monopoly of large government space agencies is becoming unsupportable, and the market that understands the very real opportunities for space travel will be reaching critical mass in the near future.
This book examines these issues and shows why space tourism will one day become the single largest business in space, and how astronomy and environmental science will be transformed by low-cost access making possible instruments vastly larger than those of today.
Contents:
- Past, Present, Predicted Future:
- Spaceplane History
-
Recent Developments
- Way Ahead
- Spaceplane Potential:
- Spaceplane Low-Cost Potential
- Orbital Infrastructure
- The Spaceplane Space Age
- Time Scale:
- Technical Feasibility
- Safety
- Maturity
- Market
- Development Cost
- Design Logic
- Breaking the Mould
- Benefits
- Conclusions
Readership: Professionals and members of the public interested in the way
ahead for space including students, academics, industrialists and managers involved in the space, aircraft and travel industries.
"... a fascinating and very readable account ... This fine book will appeal to the technically minded and the romantic at heart alike."
Philip Bridle
BBC Broadcaster — Astronomy and Space |
"In this fascinating book the author, founder of Bristol Spaceplanes argues the case clearly and very effectively ... will help to dislodge entrenched thinking where it matters. Recommended, indeed essential, reading."
"This readable but no-frills book details how a private sector return to the 'aircraft approach' will cut launch costs enabling space tourism at a 'reasonable' cost. It serves as a good summary of a dynamic market that repays close watching."
| 204pp |
Pub. date: Dec 2002 |
