Space Myths 2: Reusable Launch Vehicles

Wayne Eleazer takes a look at some of the myths surrounding the development of space vehicles, including the belief that reusable launch vehicles should resemble aircraft and have “airplane-like operations.”

“The giant leap between airplanes and space launch RLVs will be much greater than that the significant steps between airplanes and ground vehicles. And RLVs will of necessity resemble airplanes in their operations even less than Cessna does a Chevy.”

Part One of Eleazer’s space myths series was published in The Space Review in October.