NAVIGATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE RETURN TRIP FROM A SPACE VOYAGE

Robert M. L. Baker, Jr.

Peer Reviewed

Abstract:	Since the launching of the first artificial satellites, most of us have heard and read a good deal about various plans for escape from the Earth. My interest, however, has not been primarily concerned with the problem of leaving Mother Earth, but rather with the problems involved in coming back from outer space once the astrodynamicists have gotten us out there. In other words, I would like to assure myself that there will be round-trip tickets and not one-way tickets to the Moon, Mars, and Venus for the space-travelers to come. Let us consider as an example a trip to the Moon. The first Moon travelers will probably make several circles around the Moon and then, after viewing the back side of the Moon for the first time and undoubtedly naming a. crater after each passenger, will be ready to return to Earth. If they miscalculate and head too directly into the Earth’s atmosphere, crowds below awaiting them will probably be chagrined to see a bright flash of light in the sky as the ill-fated space men burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere; or if the navigator on board miscalculates and passes too far from the Earth, those below will only be able to wave them goodbye as they take off on an endless circuit of space.
Published in:	NAVIGATION: Journal of the Institute of Navigation, Volume 6, Number 3
Pages:	175 - 181
Cite this article:	Baker, Robert M. L., Jr.,, "NAVIGATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE RETURN TRIP FROM A SPACE VOYAGE", NAVIGATION: Journal of The Institute of Navigation, Vol. 6, No. 3, 1958, pp. 175-181.
Full Paper:	ION Members/Non-Members: 1 Download Credit Sign In