New Space Station

[Deepwater6]

I have been a big fan of the space stations growth over the years, but it's become a monstrosity at this point. I believe I read somewhere that the Russians were pulling out in the early 2020's and by the mid 2020's the space station would be near the end of it's projected life span. Instead of updating and remodeling the present station does anyone agree it's time to build something more futuristic?

 

Judging by the pace of JW telescope project, my faith in mankind's ability to build a new one is shaken. Even so I think we should build something that can be useful and multi-purpose for the future.

 

I'm not asking for the Starship Enterprise with solar panels hanging all over it, but there are plenty of designs that could accommodate many future space planes now on the books. Thoughts?

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=future+space+station+pictures&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiHg8ug543cAhVHON8KHc61CUAQsAQIJg

[GAHD]

like this? https://www.dezeen.com/2018/04/11/orion-span-space-hotel-aurora-station-architecture-news/
or this? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5416975/Robert-Bigelow-plans-inflatable-hotels-2021.html

 

[Turtle]

Put me down for an orbital ring. :circle:

[Deepwater6]

Exactly GHAD, Go go Bigelow and all the other spacey enterprising companies out there.

 

Mr T.   As I live and breath, how are you? It's been a while. I was trying to remember the other Science forum you visit the other day. I had it in my favs on my old computer, but it didn't make the leap to the new one for some reason.

 

Oh yes, the space elevator idea. What an ingenious way to get massive amounts of material into space without thousands and thousands of launches. I've heard tale of using them on Mars and exo-planets. Shooting the tether from space which then drills into the surface to get secure then swings with the planets rotation (more or less). 

[Turtle]

Mr T.   As I live and breath, how are you? It's been a while. I was trying to remember the other Science forum you visit the other day. I had it in my favs on my old computer, but it didn't make the leap to the new one for some reason.

 

Oh yes, the space elevator idea. What an ingenious way to get massive amounts of material into space without thousands and thousands of launches. I've heard tale of using them on Mars and exo-planets. Shooting the tether from space which then drills into the surface to get secure then swings with the planets rotation (more or less). 

Hi Deep. I can't complain. How you? Other recent forum? I don't think so.

 

The orbital ring is much more than a space elevator, though it certainly can use them. The cables are needed to keep an entire ring stable so it doesn't crash to Earth, and since the cables are there you may as well run elevators. The ring itself is our space station, regardless of how we get to it.

[Vmedvil2]

I want to build a Dyson's sphere myself, can I borrow 100 trillion dollars for construction costs?

[hazelm]

Put me down for an orbital ring. :circle:

If you are serious, why the spin?   What would it gain? 

 

I say "if you are serious" because I know you like to make problem-solving fun.  :-)

[hazelm]

Exactly GHAD, Go go Bigelow and all the other spacey enterprising companies out there.

 

Mr T.   As I live and breath, how are you? It's been a while. I was trying to remember the other Science forum you visit the other day. I had it in my favs on my old computer, but it didn't make the leap to the new one for some reason.

 

Oh yes, the space elevator idea. What an ingenious way to get massive amounts of material into space without thousands and thousands of launches. I've heard tale of using them on Mars and exo-planets. Shooting the tether from space which then drills into the surface to get secure then swings with the planets rotation (more or less). 

Aha!  My answer? Is it?  I'd better stop while I'm ahead. 

Edited July 11, 2018 by hazelm