I realized that SLS would have the capability of putting 70+ tons space station modules to orbit. Imagine the huge size of a space station built from 70+ ton modules! One of these modules would be over three times the size of a single Mir core module. I think this would be a good follow-up in the years when ISS becomes no longer usable.Of course that would be years away and there's no need to even plan for this now, but it is good to take comfort that a much larger station could be assembled when the time has come using 70 ton modules launched via SLS.
Imagine the reliabilty gains if components could be assembled and tested in the microgravity environment before they are sent off to other planets. Today's Space.Com article about how hard space flight is makes specific mention of the far less than benign environment satellites are subjected to at launch. Wouldn't it be nice to minimize those impacts?
Quote from: Cherokee43v6 on 11/15/2011 06:41 pmImagine the reliabilty gains if components could be assembled and tested in the microgravity environment before they are sent off to other planets. Today's Space.Com article about how hard space flight is makes specific mention of the far less than benign environment satellites are subjected to at launch. Wouldn't it be nice to minimize those impacts?Not really, microgravity and vacuum are worse environments than launch.Do you have a link?
Developing the systems to harness and direct that energy is tough, Logsdon added, as is devising spacecraft that can survive the bumpy blastoff and work in the harsh environment of space.
I realized that SLS would have the capability of putting 70+ tons space station modules to orbit. Imagine the huge size of a space station built from 70+ ton modules!
Not going to happen. There is no NASA need for such a station or even modules. There is no need for an ISS type followon. NASA can buy time on commercial stations
Quote from: PeterAlt on 11/15/2011 06:26 pmI realized that SLS would have the capability of putting 70+ tons space station modules to orbit. Imagine the huge size of a space station built from 70+ ton modules! One of these modules would be over three times the size of a single Mir core module. I think this would be a good follow-up in the years when ISS becomes no longer usable.Of course that would be years away and there's no need to even plan for this now, but it is good to take comfort that a much larger station could be assembled when the time has come using 70 ton modules launched via SLS.Not going to happen.There is no NASA need for such a station or even modules. There is no need for an ISS type followon. NASA can buy time on commercial stations
Which commerical stations ??Bigelow just cut their workforce in half, blaming NASA on commerical crew delays. After reading some posts on the Bigelow thread, it sounds like they still have a whole lot of work to do before they can launch modules ready for a sustained scientific mission.
Quote from: PeterAlt on 11/15/2011 06:26 pmI realized that SLS would have the capability of putting 70+ tons space station modules to orbit. Imagine the huge size of a space station built from 70+ ton modules! One of these modules would be over three times the size of a single Mir core module. I think this would be a good follow-up in the years when ISS becomes no longer usable.Of course that would be years away and there's no need to even plan for this now, but it is good to take comfort that a much larger station could be assembled when the time has come using 70 ton modules launched via SLS.1. Not going to happen.2. There is no NASA need for such a station or even modules. 3. There is no need for an ISS type followon. 4. NASA can buy time on commercial stations
1. May I borrow your crystal ball?2. Not now, but maybe later. ISS is not immortal.3. Same as #2.4. What commercial stations? There aren't any.
4. What commercial stations? There aren't any.
Quote from: clongton on 11/18/2011 08:00 pm4. What commercial stations? There aren't any.There can be, just as there wasn't an commercial crew vehicles a few years ago. The point is NASA can no longer afford large engineering projects like ISS. And the country has no need for one. But if you want a jobs program.....
As regards an SLS-launched modular successor to ISS, wouldn't it be better to build a small station at a Lagrange point rather than another large station in LEO?
NASA doesn't have budget nor will it ever for another ISS. It has no need for one. Nor does the rest of the US gov't
It's just a matter of priority. snipNASA was created to do large engineering projects like ISS
Quote from: clongton on 11/18/2011 09:04 pmIt's just a matter of priority. snipNASA was created to do large engineering projects like ISS It will never be a priority. This isn't scifi or 2001. There is no real justification for a govt run large space station past ISS.No, NASA was created to beat the Soviets, that task is no longer needed. It more like an NSF for space and there is no need for large govt space projects.