Upon Arrival to Other Inhabited Planets

The question often asked, what is the point of space research? The answer is quite simple, a space raid of a foreign civilisation existing on a planet much under-developed than ours. What would we grab? One answer is emeralds and other precious gems. Gold is too heavy and either an adapted space-shuttle (if there are Roman roads to land on!) or two section staggered landing craft would be needed. This would carry a small crew, but perhaps leaving space for a male and female to ride back with. In return for the gems the Tierra firma crew would exchange small light-weight music machines, with of course a selection of music and plenty of batteries. Hence solar power equipment might be of use, but assuming no native electricity supply, batteries would be good.

An adapted space-shuttle is one that carries its own retake-off equipment through the atmosphere onto the planet beneath, perhaps in the form of a sky-trailer. This would need heat shields and aero-dynamics to glide behind the re-entrying shuttle on a tow, but would be jettisoned and allowed to float to the ground on parachutes in the last few moments. Unfortunately the shuttle would still need some sort of path to land on. Assembling the retake-off platform (boosters and holding gear) and hoisting the shuttle on top although would take some time and effort. Perhaps the natives would help.

Upon Arrival to Other Inhabited Planets continued

A two sectioned landing craft would not necessitate the man handling of two sections together once on land (as it would with a shuttle and trailer) but instead a staggered drop would occur. Only once the re-takeoff platform was safely on the ground and functioning, would the second crewed capsule be dropped to after a second stage deployment of parachutes then use harrier-jet reverse thrusters to land precisely onto the locking gear of the previously stationed take-off equipment. This may require considerable skill.