The concept of space exploration has always fascinated humanity. Ever since the first successful launch of a human-made satellite, Sputnik 1 in 1957, the idea of exploring and colonizing space has been a subject of research and development for many scientists and engineers. One such concept that has garnered a lot of attention is the Hermes spacecraft.
What is Hermes spacecraft
The Hermes spacecraft is a European Space Agency (ESA) project that was initiated in the 1980s. It was envisioned as a reusable spacecraft that would be able to carry astronauts and payloads to low Earth orbit (LEO). The spacecraft was designed to be smaller than the American Space Shuttle but larger than the Russian Soyuz capsule.
Design Features
- The Hermes spacecraft was designed to be launched vertically on top of an Ariane 5 rocket
- It had a crew capacity of up to six astronauts
- The spacecraft had an autonomous landing system that allowed it to land on conventional runways
- It was equipped with solar panels for power generation during spaceflight
- The spacecraft had an airlock module that could accommodate payloads and experiments
- Hermes also had a robotic arm for external maintenance activities during spaceflight
Why was Hermes cancelled
Despite its impressive design features, the Hermes spacecraft project was eventually cancelled in 1993 due to several reasons. One major reason was financial constraints faced by ESA at that time. The cost of developing and launching the project proved too high for ESA’s budget.
In addition, there were concerns over safety issues related to the design of the spacecraft. The autonomous landing system was a major concern as it was still untested, and there were doubts about its reliability. The Hermes spacecraft also lacked an emergency escape system, which was a critical safety feature for human spaceflight.
Is Hermes spacecraft possible today
The concept of the Hermes spacecraft may have been cancelled in the 1990s, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to build a similar spacecraft today. In fact, several private space companies are already working on developing reusable spacecraft capable of carrying humans and payloads to LEO.
One such company is SpaceX, which has already successfully launched and landed several of its reusable Falcon 9 rockets. The company is also working on developing its Starship spacecraft, which is designed to carry up to 100 passengers to Mars and other destinations in the solar system.
Other private companies such as Blue Origin and Boeing are also developing reusable spacecraft for human spaceflight.
Conclusion
The Hermes spacecraft may have been cancelled due to financial and safety concerns, but the concept of a reusable spacecraft capable of carrying humans and payloads to LEO remains alive. With advances in technology and increasing investment from private space companies, we may see similar spacecraft become a reality in the near future.