Customer Reviews

Spaceplanes: From Airport to Spaceport (Astronomers' Universe)

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The writer of this slim volume wants to convince you that a spaceplane is the way to go, not just for earth to orbit, but interplanetary space as well.

He correctly points out that current space launch technologies, whether dumb boosters or primitive space planes like teh Space Shuttle are costly, and very unsafe compared to commercial air transport. Costs are identified as being high due to poor reusability and few launches. Similarly, launching new hardware infrequently is not the way to improve reliability. From this he believes that only when launches are frequent and the vehicles reusable, will prices fall to sustainable levels. So far so good.

What will sustain high launch rates? Space tourism. This will generate a self reinforcing demand for higher volume and hence lower prices. Of course there are no operating SSTO spaceplanes today and they are very far off as well. Almost all require mixed cycle engines to improve their mass ratios. So far all very conventional thinking, even if dumb boosters are the current best way to deliver large payloads to orbit and beyond.

However the author strays off into fantasy when he then suggests that spaceplanes should become the interplanetary ships as well. We are presented with the idea that the spaceplane should be the vehicle for a trip around the moon. Now I know that I have difficulty staying on an aircraft for a few hours and a day is extremely uncomfortable. Now imagine seven days in possibly weightless conditions in a cramped cabin. And that is even before the radiation exposure. If you are dedicated enough to endure all that, what about his proposal for a multi-month mars trip in similar conditions? The author's logic is that the single vehicle is the reliable, safe way to go and that it's wings are needed to reduce propellant costs for reentry and that it's tanks could act as cargo containers for propellant to either the moon or back for refueling.
This is where his logic breaks down. It makes far more sense to have a reusable, dedicated space ship for interplanetary travel. This ship only needs fuel for changing orbits, not for launch, and can be large and protective of the passengers.

My sense is that the author sees all travel through the lens of commercial air travel, but fails to see that off world trips are more like sea voyages. If if are going to take a cruise that takes months, would you prefer to have the freedom of a big ship or be in the passenger cabin of an aircraft?

As to content, it is generally quite lightweight, and there is a lot of repetition between the chapters. The last chapter is a review of many of the private space companies paper spaceplanes. It is already outdated with claims that commercial operations will start in 2009, 2010. Virgin Galactic may not even start suborbital trips until 2014. Orbital trips are still the preserve of missile technology, with Boeing throwing its hat in the ring just this week.

Perhaps spaceplanes are really like the small airplanes of yesteryear, full of potential, but still unable to cross long distances and oceans like ships and airships. Unlike those times, we already have a good idea of the energies involved to reach orbit and the methods to achieve this. Air breathing, combined cycle spaceplanes might not be enough to achieve the goal.

Spaceplanes are a very elegant idea, and I really want to believe, but...

This book is a comprehensive review of winged rocket-planes, form the work of Robert Goddard, through present day proposals. It also offers useful equations, such as the Velocity increment. specific impulse ,the Rocket equation, et cetera. It is a very handy book for the prospective spacecraftengineer
One problem I have with this book is that some of the information is outdated. At least one of the projects, the Space-fleet SF-01 has been canceled. However, it is still very useful.

This is well written book that gives a good perspective on the historical development of spaceplanes, as well as where they are headed. It contains a lot of detailed information which is complemented by numerous photographs, and presented in a well written manner that is not difficult to understand. A great book for aero and space enthusiasts!

This well-illustrated book (over 100 color and B/W photos and diagrams) explains clearly how spaceplanes will fly us into the future. It also details why they should replace one-time ballistic missiles as the way we enter and return from space. The appendices include a Glossary with 151 entries from "Accelerometer" to "Von Braun," a Chronology, and a section on spaceplane projects both past and present. The twelve chapters are entitled Rocketplanes at the Airport; Why Spaceplanes?; Rocket Science: Wings Added; Missiles and Modules; Crawling into Suborbit: the Baby Spaceplane; Going Ballistic; Piggyback to Orbit; Advanced Propulsion; Single Stage to Orbit: The Advanced Spaceplane; Destination Moon: The Lunar Spaceplane; Strategies for Success; and Spaceplanes at the Spaceport. There are sections on Projects Apollo and Constellation, historical background on early rocket scientists, information on both American and Russian spaceplanes, and an index. Ever wonder what CCCP really stands for? This book, on page 181, gives the accurate answer, in both Russian and English. Without getting overly technical, the author also provides an introduction to aerospace engineering, including the basics of aerodynamics and the rocket equation.

AWESOME descriptive Book. The author really is able to explain complex subject matter to the common man.
Great Job! Looking forward to the sequel.
Carl