A port is a point of departure or arrival. This book covers the topic of Spaceports. Like an airport or a train station, these are hubs that people and cargo come to for a transportation system. Some launch sites allow for vertical launch, and some allow for horizontal take off and landing. These are indistinguishable from airports, although the run ways are usually longer. Spaceports are the gateway to orbit for people and supplies. They are key to continued exploration of the solar system, and enhanced human exploration beyond the Earth. As we shall see, spaceports can be placed... in space. The pending Deep Space Gateway is one of these. The Russians prefer the term Cosmodrome. This book will not discuss purely military launch sites, and it is not intended to be exhaustive.
