Human space flight and planetary exploration

Abstract

This is a very wide subject, and in this chapter we shall concentrate on the propulsion and re-entry aspects. These amount to two major challenges: the design of a safe launcher and a safe return system, and the design of safe soft-landing systems for planetary and lunar surfaces. Sadly, we have examples of both launch and return tragedies, the result of a design that was not robust against all the exigencies of an active human space flight programme. Here we will examine the basic requirements for a safe launch system, and a safe re-entry system, and use historical examples, as well as new examples like the Project Orion human space flight system being developed by NASA to replace the Space Shuttle. If humans are to revisit the Moon and go on to Mars, then soft-landing systems will be needed. Fully thrust-controlled soft-landings have not been done since the Apollo era, and this technology needs to be re-invented to enable human planetary exploration. At the same time, soft-landing technology is also relevant to robotic and sample return missions.