Future Spacecraft Propulsion Systems: Enabling Technologies for Space Exploration

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Springer Science & Business Media, 20 mar 2009 - 560 páginas

In this second edition of Future Spacecraft Propulsion Systems, the authors demonstrate the need to break free from the old established concepts of expendable rockets, using chemical propulsion, and to develop new breeds of launch vehicle capable of both launching payloads into orbit at a dramatically reduced cost and for sustained operations in low-Earth orbit. The next steps to establishing a permanent ‘presence’ in the Solar System beyond Earth are the commercialisation of sustained operations on the Moon and the development of advanced nuclear or high-energy space propulsion systems for Solar System exploration out to the boundary of interstellar space.

In the future, high-energy particle research facilities may one day yield a very high-energy propulsion system that will take us to the nearby stars, or even beyond. Space is not quiet: it is a continuous series of nuclear explosions that provide the material for new star systems to form and provide the challenge to explore. This book provides an assessment of the industrial capability required to construct and operate the necessary spacecraft. Time and distance communication and control limitations impose robotic constraints. Space environments restrict human sustained presence and put high demands on electronic, control and materials systems.

This comprehensive and authoritative book puts spacecraft propulsion systems in perspective, from earth orbit launchers to astronomical/space exploration vehicles. It includes new material on fusion propulsion, new figures and updates and expands the information given in the first edition.

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Overview
11
Our progress appears to be impeded
35
a perspective
69
propulsion
105
Earth orbit onorbit operations in nearEarth orbit a necessary second
208
establishing a Solar System presence
255
Exploration of our Solar System
283
Stellar and interstellar precursor missions
375
View to the future and exploration of our Galaxy
437
Appendix A Nuclear propulsionrisks and dose assessment 463
462
Appendix B Assessment of open magnetic fusion for space propulsion
487
Index
543
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