Unmanned spaceflight

As unmanned space is any space activities whose job performance is ensured without human intervention on site. This includes all unmanned spacecraft ( telepresent / part / autonomous) that do not support manned space mission directly ( interaction with astronauts, interact with a habitat or the surrounding areas, ...). The unmanned space is thus the counterpart of manned spaceflight.

Background

A distinction between manned and unmanned space existed indirectly at the beginning of the Apollo program ( 1961). The opponents of the program, saw the implementation of manned space flight, with the goal of landing on the moon, hardly a scientific benefits. The arguments that spoke against such a project, so were always financial in nature, with the intention that the cost of the Apollo program could be better used; whether in science, technology, research or medicine. Indirectly, in this context means that the extent of unmanned space at this time seen or was not the military space (launchers and spy satellites ) has not been called into question.

The unmanned space was at that time still in its infancy, since the electro-technical development, which ( in part ) allows autonomous systems, was not yet fully developed accordingly. The first Pioneer space probes were an utter failure. This only changed gradually with the Ranger, Mariner, and Surveyor space probes in which the reliability and functionality were further increased. While at the beginning of the Apollo program, the unmanned space was rather insignificant, provided the spacecraft towards the end of the program, more and more valuable scientific knowledge. The Mariner 4 probe ( 1964) led by scientific measurements with respect to the Mars, scoring 22 pictures that were sent to Earth later. The probe Pioneer 10 (1972 ) failed to find zodiacal light beyond the Earth, passing through the asteroid belt and reach the Jupiter to perform scientific measurements and create images for the first time. Viking 1 and 2 ( 1975) reached the Mars Lander and sat on him from. If the academic performance of the Apollo program has faced in relation to the lunar exploration which, the evidence is modest. There have been a number of samples taken ( 382 kg of lunar rocks ) and pictures shot, but the costs vary dramatically. During the Apollo program with about 25 billion U.S. dollars ( at that time cost ) is estimated, the Ranger program cost only $ 170 million (then costs). Would the cost of all former spacecraft programs are added, the amount would still be less than that for the Apollo program, the scientific evidence but would be far greater.

This differentiation between manned and unmanned space flight began with the commercialization of the near-Earth space by communications, Earth observation and navigation satellites on the rise and with it the question: " Why should penetrate into space man, if the task be carried out by a robotic mission could? ".

Note:

The arguments used here were rather written from the perspective of a critic of manned space flight, to clarify the intention of a distinction between manned and unmanned spaceflight. A detailed discussion of the topic can be found in the relevant literature concerning the topic of " benefit of the ( manned ) space".

The unmanned space

The advantage of the unmanned space lies in the absence of the factor "human being". A person needs to survive in the vastness of the universe can: life support systems for air and water treatment, food, space and sleep. Satisfying the needs of the people increase the cost due to additional required equipment ( eg, life support systems, sanitation facilities, ...) and a generally associated increase in mass. A life support system is not required by an autonomous unit, as well as food and space in terms of habitat ( structural mass increase). Electronic systems can and (if provided ) transmit data to Earth work 365 days in a year, around the clock. The reduction of mass and auxiliary systems for unmanned space flight results in a significant cost compared to manned space flight. The advantage of the factor " human " intelligent action is based on the individual case on the spot. For this reason, unmanned systems are used everywhere, where the boundary conditions are known or can be guessed. For example, are only possible unmanned years of flights to distant planets and their exploration of no return. In addition, through unmanned probes radiation levels that are lethal to humans.

The unmanned space can be widely used in satellites ( especially earth satellites ) and spacecraft divided. Indirectly, transport systems to be counted, not intended for the carriage of persons. Below is a list of unmanned systems:

• Satellite for various applications such weather satellites
• Spy satellites
• Earth observation satellites
• Telecommunications satellites
• Navigation satellite
• Space telescopes, some even as probes outside the Earth's orbit.
• ...

• To explore the universe, the sun, the planets, moons, comets, etc.

• Launchers
• Aircraft such as the Boeing X -37, UPS, ...