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Why are the very reliable rockets Atlas V and Ariane V not rated for human flight?
During the last ten years all 100 or so launches by Atlas V and Ariane V together have been successful. (One Atlas V payload entered too low orbit, but that would hardly have risked the life of a crew)...
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What exactly does it mean to human-rate a rocket? As opposed to the escape system?
The escape system is that thin pointy part at the very top of the rocket. It has powerful solid rockets that basically act as an "ejection seat" for the entire crew capsule.
So when we talk about "...
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