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Author
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Topic: Sending the space station to the asteroids
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dabolton
Member Posts: 419
From: Seneca, IL, US
Registered: Jan 2009
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posted 12-02-2011 10:37 PM
  
Could the ISS structure withstand the pressure of large rockets to push it out of earth orbit? Essentially the idea calls for retrofitting the ISS for deep space. That means sticking a rocket on it and possibly beefing up thermal and radiation insulation. That could carry astronauts to the stars for a fraction the cost that a full-blown new vehicle would cost. |
Cozmosis22
Member Posts: 1115
From: Texas * Earth
Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 12-02-2011 10:38 PM
Interesting proposition. Will start the speculation... probably doable. Propulsion rocket and fuel tanks positioning will be critical. Maybe a bit of reinforcement here and there. Might as well jettison the huge flimsy solar power arrays as they wouldn't be worth the trouble out there past Mars. Replace them with a nuclear energy source. Not likely it would ever happen though. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 50516
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 12-02-2011 10:46 PM
The linked blog is very vague. It cites no sources for its brief summary, saying "NASA is considering" but never supports that claim with any specifics.The blog makes no mention of the planned extension of ISS operations through 2028 (a consideration already underway) and ignores the Space Launch System and Orion MPCV. But that aside, the idea of sending the ISS — or at least components of it — to an asteroid dates back to at least August 2010: Sending ISS's Tranquiliy Node 3 to an asteroid. |
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