Cycling Spacecraft - Research Article from Macmillan Science Library: Space Sciences

This encyclopedia article consists of approximately 3 pages of information about Cycling Spacecraft.

Cycling Spacecraft - Research Article from Macmillan Science Library: Space Sciences

This encyclopedia article consists of approximately 3 pages of information about Cycling Spacecraft.
This section contains 614 words
(approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page)
Buy the Cycling Spacecraft Encyclopedia Article

The furthering of humankind's expansion into space and establishing of firm footholds on other worlds could depend on a continuously moving, cycling spaceship network. These rapid-transit cycling spaceships would employ the principles of gravity assist, which entails taking a slingshot approach to running people and cargo from one locale to another. The motions of the planets and gravity would be used as a natural fuel.

It may be possible to establish a "recyclable space program"—a vision that is a far cry from the early days of space exploration. As an example, the Apollo Moon landing effort of the 1960s and 1970s involved tossaway technology. All of the stages of the giant Saturn V booster—except for the return capsule that brought the astronauts back to Earth—were thrown away. Even today, the idea of a fully or partially disposable space program is being perpetuated.

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This section contains 614 words
(approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page)
Buy the Cycling Spacecraft Encyclopedia Article
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Cycling Spacecraft from Macmillan. Copyright © 2001-2006 by Macmillan Reference USA, an imprint of the Gale Group. All rights reserved.