Spaceport
hideA spaceport or cosmodrome (Russian: космодром) is a site for launching (or receiving) spacecraft, by analogy with seaport for ships or airport for aircraft. The word spaceport, and even more so cosmodrome, has traditionally been used for sites capable of launching spacecraft into orbit around Earth or on interplanetary trajectories. However, rocket launch sites for purely sub-orbital flights are sometimes called spaceports. In recent years new and proposed sites for suborbital human flights have commonly been named spaceports. Space stations are sometimes called spaceports, in particular if intended as a base for further journeys.
The term rocket launch site is used for any facility from which rockets are launched. It may contain one or more launch pads or suitable sites to mount a transportable launch pad. It is surrounded with large safety area named rocket range or missile range. The range includes the area over which launched rockets are expected to fly, and within which some components of the rockets may land. Tracking stations, vessels, and aircraft are often located in the range to assess the progress of the launches.
Major spaceports often include more than one launch complex, which can be well-separated (for safety reasons) rocket launch sites adapted for different types of launch vehicles. For launch vehicles with liquid propellant, suitable storage facilities and, in some cases, production facilities are necessary. On-site processing facilities for solid propellants are also common.
A spaceport can also include runways for takeoff and landing of spacecraft equipped with wings.
For more information about Spaceport, read the full article at
Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.
News tagged with spaceport
Space hotel taking bookings for 2012 opening
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Nov 05, 2009 |
4.4 / 5 (21) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- The first orbiting space hotel is on track to open for its first customers in 2012, but hurry, as bookings are filling fast.
Japanese astronaut tests endurance -- of his undies
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Jul 30, 2009 |
4.8 / 5 (5) |
4
(AP) -- In what might embarrass less adventurous souls, astronaut Koichi Wakata is returning to Earth with the underwear he kept on for a solid month during his space station stay and scientists will check ...
Atlantis astronauts warily eye landing-day weather
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
May 21, 2009 |
1 / 5 (1) |
0
(AP) -- Atlantis' astronauts checked their ship's flight systems and packed up Thursday in hopes of an on-time end to their triumphant Hubble Space Telescope repair mission, although the weather prospects ...
Herschel, Planck cosmic explorers in flight: stunning images from ground and space
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
May 15, 2009 |
4.9 / 5 (8) |
1
(PhysOrg.com) -- Stunning images taken from Earth and space show Herschel and Planck in flight on 14 May 2009. The first, taken from Herschel, show the Planck-Sylda composite just after Herschel's separation, ...
Herschel and Planck space telescopes lift off
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
May 14, 2009 |
4.9 / 5 (10) |
1
(PhysOrg.com) -- At 15:12:02 CEST, at the beginning of a 55-minute launch window, the Herschel and Planck satellite pair lifted off on board an Ariane 5 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
Herschel and Planck to lift off on 14 May
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Apr 28, 2009 |
5 / 5 (1) |
1
(PhysOrg.com) -- Now that additional checks on the Ariane 5 ECA launcher have been completed, Arianespace and ESA have set the launch date of Herschel and Planck for Thursday 14 May.
Planck satellite fuels up
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Apr 23, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
(PhysOrg.com) -- Tests conducted on Planck at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, have confirmed that the satellite's subsystems work perfectly, and the helium dilution cooler tanks have now been ...
Herschel and Planck to lift off on 6 May
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Apr 08, 2009 |
4.7 / 5 (3) |
0
(PhysOrg.com) -- With the additional checks related to the flight worthiness of the Herschel telescope now completed, ESA and Arianespace have set the launch date of Herschel and Planck for 6 May 2009.
Shuttle lands in Florida, ending 13-day voyage
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Mar 28, 2009 |
5 / 5 (2) |
2
(AP) -- Shuttle Discovery and its crew of seven returned to Earth on Saturday and successfully wrapped up a construction mission that left the international space station with all its solar wings and extra ...
Astronauts get shuttle ready to come home Saturday
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Mar 27, 2009 |
3 / 5 (2) |
0
(AP) -- Their mission almost complete, space shuttle Discovery's astronauts checked out their ship's flight systems Friday to ensure a safe return to NASA's spaceport.
