24. 4) How do you know what kind of ship to build to go into space? (A K2S Question)

From The Space Library

First, requirements defining the objectives of the mission—destination, tasks to be performed, mission duration, and payloads, for example, are determined. Then analyses are performed to determine the optimum combination of mission phases, including launch, Earth orbit operations, trans-space course, destination orbit operations, destination landing, return to Earth, and Earth landing, as well as the number of crewmembers, tasks to be performed, electrical power required, and necessary expendables. Then a design is developed and refined to meet all these requirements. Budgets are estimated and continually updated to be sure there will be enough money. Finally, a commitment is made to build, test, and fly the spacecraft.

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Answer provided by Jon H. Brown

Question and Answer extracted from the book Kids to Space - by Lonnie Schorer

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