SUBORBITAL

Industry at the Edge of Space

Erik Seedhouse

Until recently, spaceflight has been the providence of a select corps of astronauts whose missions, in common with all remarkable exploits, were experienced vicariously by the rest of the world via television reports and Internet feeds. These spacefarers risked their lives in the name of science, exploration and adventure, thanks to government-funded manned spaceflight programs.

All that is about to change

The nascent commercial suborbital spaceflight industry will soon open the space frontier to commercial astronauts, payload specialists and, of course, spaceflight participants. Suborbital explains the tantalizing science opportunities offered when suborbital trips become routine and describes the difference in training and qualification necessary to become either a spaceflight participant or a fully fledged commercial suborbital astronaut.

Suborbital also explains how the commercial suborbital spaceflight industry is planning and preparing for the challenges of marketing the hiring of astronauts. It examines the role of commercial operators as enablers accessing the suborbital frontier and how a partnership with governments and the private sector will eventually permanently integrate the free market's innovation of commercial suborbital space activities.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
About the author
Figures
Tables
Acronyms
Foreword

1. Suborbital Spaceflight
2. Suborbital Market
3. Training Suborbital Astronauts
4. The Frontrunners
5. Contenders: Vehicles Waiting in the Wings
6. Spaceports
7. Suborbital Science
8. Payloads
9. How to Get There

Appendix I
Appendix II
Appendix III
Appendix IV
Index

Extent: 184 pages, Black and white/colour images integrated with text
Binding: Paperback
Published: 2014
ISBN: 978-3-319-03484-3

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