Cheap Astronomy - Dear CA #089: Spacecraft

To Boldly Speculate… Dear Cheap Astronomy – How would you design a spacecraft? Here at Cheap Astronomy we’d use recycled materials, outsourced labour and lots of cut corners. Seriously though... if we’re talking about a crewed spacecraft one of the first things to think about is gravity. Dear Cheap Astronomy – Are everything-you-launch-is-it spacecraft now old technology? So, this is really a question about whether the Apollo mission concept – of launching everything in one go is the way of the future or will we move to an approach of where you launch components separately and then assemble them in orbit – and maybe fly to your destination where the various pre-launched modules are already positioned there awaiting your arrival – like say a Mars lander?   We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing, hosting, and production costs.  Just visit: https://www.patreon.com/365DaysOfAstronomy and donate as much as you can! Share the podcast with your friends and send the Patreon link to them too!  Every bit helps! Thank you! ------------------------------------ Do go visit http://www.redbubble.com/people/CosmoQuestX/shop for cool Astronomy Cast and CosmoQuest t-shirts, coffee mugs and other awesomeness! http://cosmoquest.org/Donate This show is made possible through your donations.  Thank you! (Haven't donated? It's not too late! Just click!) ------------------------------------ The 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast is produced by the Planetary Science Institute. http://www.psi.edu Visit us on the web at 365DaysOfAstronomy.org or email us at [email protected].