Overview

A revolution in spaceflight is likely soon, with the prospect of everyday access to orbit. Costly ballistic missiles used to launch vehicles will be replaced by ""spaceplanes"", using technology that already exists. In a few years' time, a prototype could be built, and with further detailed development, the design could approach airliner maturity, reducing the cost of sending people into space some one thousand times. 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 is an examination of these issues, showing why space tourism will one day become the single largest business in space, and how astronomy will be transformed by low-cost access making practicable instruments orders of magnitude larger than those today.

Full Product Details

Author:   David Ashford (Bristol Spaceplanes Limited, Uk)
Publisher:   Imperial College Press
Imprint:   Imperial College Press
Dimensions:   Width: 17.20cm , Height: 1.70cm , Length: 23.00cm
Weight:   0.626kg
ISBN:  

9781860943201

ISBN 10:   1860943209
Pages:   204
Publication Date:   31 December 2002
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Undergraduate ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Out of stock  
The supplier is temporarily out of stock of this item. It will be ordered for you on backorder and shipped when it becomes available.

Table of Contents

Reviews

... 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. Spaceflight 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. Astronomy Now

"""... 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."" Spaceflight ""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."" Astronomy Now"

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