Index - R

Radiation, 92, 128

Radio telescopes, 95

Radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs), 133

Ranger probes, 20-21

Reagan, Ronald, 42-43, 78

Reentry, space shuttle, 60-61

A Renewed Spirit of Discovery: The President's Vision for U.S. Space Exploration (Bush), 35

Return to Launch Site (RTLS) abort, 61

Ride, Sally, 32

The Right Stuff (Wolfe), 9

Robotic space explorers
     Discovery program, 92-93, 93f
     Explorer program, 92, 92f
     International Solar-Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) program, 27, 93-94
     Japan, 49
     NASA programs, 26-27
     overview, 12
     private space organizations, 50-51
     sampling ships, 91, 109, 110, 111f, 112f
     solar missions, 104, 107-110, 108t, 109f, 110f, 111f, 112f
     See also Space observatories

Rockets
     Ariane, 49
     Delta rockets, 100, 100f
     history, 4-5
     military research, 40
     N-1 rocket, 46
     superbooster rockets, 8-9, 46

Rosaviakosmos
     evolution of, 48
     International Space Station (ISS), 26
     organization and goals, 48
     shuttle-Mir missions, 73-78, 74f, 75t-76t
     space stations, 11
     space tourism, 13-14
     See also International Space Station (ISS)

Round the Moon (Verne), 2

RTGs (radioisotope thermoelectric generators), 133

Russia intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), 45
     shuttle-Mir missions, 73-78, 74f, 75t-76t
     space tourism, 13-14
     See also International Space Station (ISS); Mir space station; Rosaviakosmos; Soviet Union