Tourists in Space

by Seedhouse, Erik

• ISBN13: 9780387746432
• ISBN10: 0387746439
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-02-01
• Publisher: Praxis

Summary

Recent surveys have provided new and updated information into public insights of the nascent space tourism industry. Erik Seedhouse uniquely explores in detail the cutting-edge technologies, spacecraft capabilities, launch vehicles and the training that will define this commercial enterprise and also provides a manual for future suborbital and orbital private space explorers. This overview of the space tourism market is based upon choices the spaceflight participant must make, such as choice of agency, mode and spaceport. A detailed explanation is given of the medical requirements for spaceflight participants, with special reference to potential waiver criteria. Over half of the book is a comprehensive astronaut training/instructional manual that addresses each of the 15 subjects required for suborbital and orbital flight. A DVD with instructional lectures in the form of powerpoint slides might be included. Following an Introduction examining the commercial potential for space tourism, Section 1 covers Suborbital Flight. Chapter 1 opens with a description and analysis of the significance of SpaceShipOne. Chapter 2 gives the Suborbital frontrunner profiles, mission architectures and technical aspects from launch to landing while the following chapter details the training and medical requirements for space tourists. Section 2 covers the same aspects for Orbital Flight, including a civilian astronaut training manual, enabling technologies, capabilities and personnel. A description is given of the anticipated on-orbit phases that will introduce the potential spaceflight participant or reader to the capsule, rendezvous, medical support, mission events and de-orbit phase. Section 3 gives a detailed assessment of the future of space tourism based on current technologies, commercial applications, military use and Lunar and Mars missions. Countries without space programs are also included. Erik Seedhouse provides a much needed, well-rounded understanding of what promises to be the most dynamic, multi-faceted and exciting industry in the world. He shows how seemingly innocuous players are disproving long held beliefs about what can be achieved in space despite the inherent complexities, and why this industry may soon define the new norm in space travel.

Author Biography

Dr. Erik Seedhouse is eminently qualified to write this informative handbook for all potential spaceflight participants.  He was an Astronaut Training Consultant and wrote the Spaceflight Participants Flight Surgeon's Manual for Bigelow Aerospace in 2005. He also developed astronaut training protocols for future spaceflight participants and wrote and edited several chapters of Bigelow Aerospace's Astronaut Training Manual. He has written many technical and scientific articles as well as articles for Spaceflight magazine. Erik Seedhouse is a research scientist specializing in environmental life sciences and physiology, for which he obtained his Ph.D. in Physiology while working for the European Space Agency between 1996 and 1998.

Table of Contents

List of figures
List of tables
Introduction: Commercial potential for space tourism	p. 1
Strapping rockets to dreams: The significance of SpaceShipOne	p. 13
Suborbital company profiles, technology drivers, and mission architecture	p. 21
Medical and training requirements for suborbital flight	p. 47
Orbital flight: The orbital experience, company profiles, mission architectures, and enabling technologies	p. 81
Medical certification: Spaceflight participant medical standards and certification	p. 109
Training for orbital flight	p. 139
Introduction to the space environment	p. 155
Survival training	p. 187
Medical training	p. 215
G tolerance and high-altitude indoctrination training	p. 233
Space motion sickness and zero-G theory	p. 251
Onboard systems orientation and generic vehicle orientation	p. 265
Flight and emergency procedures	p. 275
Commercial applications of space tourism	p. 285
Advanced space tourism	p. 293
Epilogue	p. 305
Index	p. 307
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.