Spaceflight Vol 59 No 08 – August 2017

The Global Space Industry
In response to questions about the cost of space programmes and the benefits that accrue, Spaceflight introduces a new periodic feature called FACTCHECKER, which will address a specific issue in contention and attempt to find out the truth behind the headlines.

China’s First Space Station Plans
Renowned analyst of Russian and Chinese space missions, trajectories and projections, Phillip Clark examines the build-up to China’s first major space station complex and explains the various elements which will go into its as-sembly.

Women first?
Recent studies of physiological reactions to long duration space flight reveals that women are better equipped to survive the trip than men. Why is this so and what are the implications for protection from prohibitively high levels of radiation?

Stations in LEO – and beyond
In the second part of a two-part examination of future plans for human space flight goals in the next decade or so, we examine the options for maintaining stations in Earth orbit and for placing new facilities around the Moon.

Genetic gifts and a Mars mission
William Rowe MD looks at challenges faced by humans on flights to Mars and asks whether we have learned any-thing at all from the Moon missions of the Apollo era.

Talking to Icarus
Peter Milne takes time from his work on the Icarus interstellar study to report on challenges to communicating with space probes at our nearest stellar neighbours.

Regular Features

News Analysis – More Phantom than Express? – The Future’s Bright

A Letter from the Editor

Briefing notes – news shorts from around the world

ISS Report – 9 May – 8 June 2017

Flashback – A regular feature looking back 50 years ago this month

Satellite Digest – 534 May 2017

Shelf – Space Shuttle 1972-2013

Society News – Sir Arthur Clarke Awards – Sino-Russian Technical Forum – IAC Student Paper Competition

What’s On