How would you utilize the ISS?
We’ve got a pretty interesting collection of folks here, so I thought I’d throw this question out to ya’ll.
What do you think we could or should be doing with the International Space Station that we’re not already doing or isn’t planned? Say that Congress comes up with an extension for the ISS past 2020. What would you do with it?
I’ll throw my idea out there to get this started. There’s a lot of interest in using the Station as a testbed for new technologies, such as advanced propulsion and power generation and storage. We’re going to have to build entirely new spacecraft to get to places like Mars, though. I think we could use the Station as a testbed for things like inflatable habitats and, perhaps, even rotating crew modules to make sure the stuff works well before we head out on long-duration missions.
What would you like to see?
5 Responses to “How would you utilize the ISS?”
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John Benac on July 12th, 2009
The space station is a complex system where even the (what you would think would be) simple docking of the HTV program is driving creation of new interface hardware and loads of on orbit pre-docking configuration work.
The structural and thermal loads on the station are a function of the physical profile of the station relative to aerodynamic forces and heat sources.
That being said, the reconfiguration of the station throughout it’s lifetime and it’s robustness to accomadate changes in configuration for the SARJ anomoly, radiator failure, Node 3 and cuppola reconfiguration, etc, show that when we spend the time and money, we can do what we want with it.
I think what should be done with the space station is that the government should turn it into a GOCO: (Government-Owned, Contractor Operated) national lab operated by Boeing, just like JPL and Sandia National Labs.
Boeing built and maintains most of it already and knows how to manage it. Being a private company, Boeing could make money without being as beholden to congregational directives, annual budgets, and the other red tape associated with big government contracts.
After that, sure, bring on the advanced prop modules, the inflatable habs and commercial nodes, and more experiments.
Right now, with 6 crew up there, the limiting factor is upmass for experiments. If we can keep enough experiments in the astronauts hands, we wont have to stretch to find new things to do with the ISS.
ALONZO M ELLIS on July 16th, 2009
I think that the station would make a great place to test shielding for the long voige to the planet earth, or to say to other worlds.
The greatest reflector is a mirrored shipe.
Rolando Quintanilla on July 18th, 2009
1) digitize all information on ISS and make it accessible through a easy access centralized (one) server.
2) Ask for all original digital files used to complete new projects. (Word, Excel, CAD, FEM, Analysis files, etc)
3) Right all requirements on a moderated Wiki, for simple improvements and cross-linking.
4) Publish ALL documentation in a moderated wiki. Makes work more easily searchable.
5) Communication band-width increase through contracting with commercial satellites like DirecTV
6) Automate the ISS (no humans needed)
a) Prepares for Mars exploration
b) Potentially extends ISS Life
7) Send ISS into deep orbit after planned retirement (needs automation to work)
a) experiments in deep orbit could be interesting.
b) extends life of ISS infrastructure even further.
Chris Harrison on August 2nd, 2009
Bring on commercial use for national/international prosperity. I’m not keen on the idea of commercial astronauts quite yet, but have commercial contractors bid for rack space and platform utilization. Let commercial industry identify technology development opportunities and have NASA assist with transportation/execution of experiments.
In this way, NASA can still hold its much-coveted control over LEO operations, but can finally open the door to commercialization of LEO assets for discovery and profit.
Justin on August 2nd, 2009
For what it’s worth, Chris, something like that is already in the works under the aegis of the National Laboratory function. NLO is releasing Announcements of Opportunity where commercial developers can try to get their payloads on the Station.