Spaceflight revolution [Paperback]

David Ashford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 10, 2002

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"... 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

About the Author

David Ashford is the director of Bristol Spaceplanes Limited, a spaceplane and space tourism consultancy. He graduated from Imperial College, University of London, in aeronautical engineering and spent one year at Princeton, US doing post-graduate research on rocket motor combustion instability. His first job, starting in 1961, was with the Hawker Siddeley Aviation spaceplane design team. He has worked as an aerodynamicist, project engineer or project manager on various aerospace projects, including DC-8, DC-10, Concorde, the Skylark sounding rocket, and various naval missile systems. He co-authored with Patrick Collins the first serious book on space tourism "Your Spaceflight Manual — How You Could Be a Tourist in Space Within Twenty Years" (Headline, 1990).

Product Details

• Paperback: 204 pages
• Publisher: Icp (December 10, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 186094325X
• ISBN-13: 978-1860943256
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,796,620 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Future Looking Book On Spaceflight, August 17, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Spaceflight revolution (Paperback)

As a person who has been intimately involved with the manned and unmanned United States space programs I believe Mr. Ashford's new book "Spaceflight Revolution" to be just that, a revolutionary perspective on the future of spaceflight.

Spaceflight Revolution is both pragmatic and scientifically sound. If a fraction of the funding devoted to the aging U.S. Shuttle fleet were spent on the development of a Spaceplane Mr. Ashford's vision of a new, relatively low cost access to space for the normal citizen is within the grasp of this generation.

David Ashford takes the reader step by step through the history of spaceplane development, into the feasibility, safety, Market, and design of these amazing spacecraft.

With over 40 years of hands on experience with designing spaceplanes, Mr. Ashford does a credible job of bringing together the economics and design logic for why spaceplanes are the future of manned spaceflight.

Much like the call from President John F. Kennedy, to safely send and return a man to the moon with a decade, "Spaceflight Revolution" breaths life into the dream of routine civilian access to space, within our lifetime.

Mr. Ashford is truly a visionary the Wilbur & Orville Wright of spaceplane flight.

I highly recommend "Spaceflight Revolution" to any person interested in the future of man in space.