Spaceports New / Potential Launch sites The Scottish National Party is calling for an RAF airbase in Moray to become the UK’s first commercial spaceport. The base has already been identified by Virgin Galactic as a possible location for a commercial space enterprise. Speaking earlier this month, Virgin Galactic president Will Whitehorn said that...
General
Nuclear Thermal Propulsion
Radiation created by nuclear technologies is dangerous to both humans and their machines. Any use of nuclear propulsion technology would have to be accompanied by the use of extensive shielding and “hardening.” The potential advantages of nuclear propulsion over chemical methods are staggering. The energy that is available from nuclear reactions (fission, fusion, and...
Rocket Engine basics – an overview
All of the propulsion technologies we have discussed on this site will improve our ability to achieve orbit from the Earth’s surface, but will have limited utility in travelling to other planets. The primary rocket engine technology at the present time is the chemical rocket engine, and it is likely to remain the dominant...