Mankind has been exploring outer space with manned ships for more than half a century. Alas, during this time it, figuratively speaking, has not far sailed away. If we compare the Universe with the ocean, we just wander at the edge of the surf ankle-deep in the water. Once, however, they decided to swim a little deeper (Apollo lunar program), and since then we have been living in memories of this event as the highest achievement.
Until now, spacecraft have mainly served as delivery vehicles to
orbital stations and back to Earth. The maximum duration of an autonomous flight, achieved by the Space Shuttle shuttle, is only 30 days, and even then theoretically. But maybe the spaceships of the future will become much more perfect and more universal?
Already the lunar expeditions of the Apollo have clearly shown that the requirements for the upcoming spacecraft can be very different from the tasks for the space taxi. Apollo’s lunar cabin had very little in common with streamlined ships and was not designed to fly in a planetary atmosphere. Some idea of what the spaceships of the future will look like, photos of American astronauts give more than clearly.
The most serious factor that holds back human episodic research into the solar system, not to mention the organization of scientific bases on the planets and their satellites, is radiation. Problems arise even with lunar missions lasting a week for strength. And a year and a half flight to Mars, which seemed to be about to take place, is being moved further and further. Studies with automatic devices have shown a deadly
level of radiation for humans on the entire route of an interplanetary flight. So the spaceships of the future will inevitably acquire serious anti-radiation protection in combination with special medical and biological measures for the crew.
It’s clear that the sooner he gets to his destination, the better. But for a quick flight, powerful engines are needed. And for them, in turn, a highly efficient fuel that would not take up much space. Therefore, chemical marching engines in the near future will give way to nuclear ones. If scientists succeed in taming antimatter, i.e., transferring mass into light radiation, the spacecraft of the future will gain photon engines. In this case, we will talk about achieving relativistic speeds and interstellar expeditions.
Another serious obstacle to the development of man of the universe will be the long-term support of his life. In just a day, the human body consumes a lot of oxygen, water and food, emits solid and liquid waste, exhales carbon dioxide. It’s pointless to take on board a full supply of oxygen and products because of their huge weight. The problem is solved by an onboard closed
life support system. However, until now, all experiments on this topic have not been successful. And without a closed LSS, spaceships of the future flying through space are unthinkable for years; pictures of artists, of course, amaze the imagination, but do not reflect the real state of affairs.
So, all the projects of spaceships and spaceships are still far from real implementation. And humanity will have to come to terms with the study of the universe by astronauts under the cover of the Earth’s magnetic field and receiving information from automatic probes. But this, of course, is temporary. Cosmonautics does not stand still, and indirect signs show that a major breakthrough is ripening in this area of human activity. So, perhaps, the spaceships of the future will be built and make their first flights in the 21st century.