This open access book focuses on one of the recent research hotspots in the field of astronautics—long-range aerospace transportation systems. It aims to achieve ultra-fast flight of 10,000 kilometers per hour on the Earth’s surface with a payload capacity comparable to that of large transport aircraft. Integrating the domains of astronautics and transportation, the book consolidates the team’s years of research achievements in the overall design and control technologies of rocket-powered heavy-load long-range high-speed transportation systems.

The core content includes:

Concepts, characteristics, and research significance of long-range heavy-load aerospace transportation systems;

Fundamental issues in overall design and control of long-range aerospace transportation;

Multidisciplinary design optimization of long-range heavy-load aerospace transportation systems;

Mechanisms of aerodynamic–thermal–structural multi-field coupling in high-Mach, high-frequency, long-duration flights;

Reliability and lifetime evaluation methods for small-sample transportation systems;

Guidance and control technologies for long-range heavy-load aerospace transportation systems.

The distinctive feature of this book lies in combining fundamental theoretical methods with engineering design experience, promoting the development of space transportation technology toward airline-style operations, low cost, and high reliability in ground transportation. It provides advanced design theories and methodological support for the innovative design of future aerospace transportation systems.

The primary readership includes faculty and students in aerospace engineering, researchers, and professionals engaged in related fields.

Dr. Zhengyu Song is a researcher with a Ph.D. in Engineering and serves as the chief designer of China’s Long March 8 series launch vehicles at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology. He is an academician of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), a member of IAA’s Technical Committee III, and a member of the International Astronautical Federation’s Committee on Human Spaceflight. His research focuses on the overall design, guidance, and control of space transportation systems. Dr. Song is the co-editor of Acta Astronautica and sits on the editorial boards of several leading journals. He has received one National Special Prize and two First Prizes for scientific and technological achievements. He has published extensively in international peer-reviewed journals, including Progress in Aerospace Sciences, AIAA Journal, CJOA, JGCD, Automatica, and Acta Astronautica. By 2025, he had authored two monographs with Springer.

Dr. Xiaowei Wang received his Ph.D. through a joint program between Beihang University, China, and the Georgia Institute of Technology, USA. He is a corresponding member of IAA, a national-level young top talent, a member of the IAF Space Transportation Technical Committee, and the co-chair of both the IAC Future Space Transportation Forum and the Lunar Base Forum. He is currently a researcher at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, specializing in the overall design and aerodynamic/thermal design of space transportation systems. He also serves as a young editorial board member of Space, Science & Technology. By 2025, Dr. Wang had co-authored five monographs, published 70 papers in leading international aerospace journals as the first or corresponding author, been granted 30 national invention patents, and received more than 20 high-level awards.

Dr. Changzhu Wei is a tenured professor at Harbin Institute of Technology, China, and a recognized national-level young talent. His research focuses on flight control, trajectory optimization and guidance, as well as the theory and applications of artificial intelligence. He has published more than 100 academic papers and holds 73 national invention patents. By 2025, Dr.. Wei had led over 40 research projects, including those funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and major programs of national ministries. His contributions have been recognized with multiple honors, including two provincial/ministerial second prizes for technological invention, two third prizes for scientific and technological progress, one second prize for technological invention from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, and one third prize for scientific and technological progress from the China North Industries Group Corporation.

Dr. Renhe Shi is a tenured associate professor at the School of Aerospace Science and Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT), China, and a recipient of the China Association for Science and Technology’s Young Talent Support Program. He earned his Ph.D. at BIT and has long been engaged in multidisciplinary design optimization theory and its applications for complex aerospace vehicles. By 2025, Dr. Shi had published 46 papers in international peer-reviewed journals and been granted 22 national invention patents. He has led several major projects, including a cultivation project under the National Natural Science Foundation of China’s Major Research Program and a Youth Fund project. His research outcomes have been successfully applied to various types of flight vehicle systems development.