Space launchers: Launch failure; boardroom fracas

Failure to Launch

Ma The importance of inflammation and inflammatory pathways in atherosclerotic disease and acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is well established. The success of statin therapy rests not only on potently reducing levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, but also on the many beneficial, pleiotropic effects statin therapy has on various inflammatory mechanisms in atherosclerotic disease, from r...

Multidisciplinary Optimization in the Design of Future Space Launchers

As industrial prime contractor ASTRIUM Space Transportation is responsible for the design of space launchers. A space launcher is a complex system, requiring contributions from many disciplines. In this chapter we will endeavour to limit ourselves to the launch vehicle design problem, which proves to be a multidisciplinary optimization problem. The mission of a space launcher is to place a payl...

Alternative Space Vehicle Launch Systems

Over the last century chemical propellants have been the dominant fuel source for the aviation and aerospace industry, primarily because they are able to provide ample power for a limited cost. However, over the last decade as the price of chemical propellant continues to soar and their detrimental effect on our environment comes to light, there has been a surge to develop an alternative propul...

Fractal Fracas

Launch to Space With an Electromagnetic Railgun

Many advances in electromagnetic (EM) railgun and power supply technology have been made in recent years. Laboratory experiments with railguns have demonstrated muzzle velocities of 2–3 km/s and muzzle energies 8 MJ. The extension of this technology to the muzzle velocities ( 7500 m/s) and energies ( 10 GJ) needed for the direct launch of payloads into orbit is very challenging, but may not be ...