ISS Destruction Alternatives

[Shocon]

All the discussion seems to be about how to plan the fiery descent of the ISS to Earth. Since the ISS seems to have possibilities for a fairly long lifetime I wonder if consideration should be given to accelerating the ISS out of Earth orbit an into a new mission - lunar orbit -Mars orbit - solar orbit - deep space exploration mission (attach solar sails???). It could be manned temporarily or it could be filled with a multitude of technologies. Seem like a waste of money to put such a huge construction into earth orbit and then destroy it rather than thinking about new missions that take advantage of the fact that it is already off the planet.

 

[Wolfshadw]

Only if the ISS could become self-sustainable would any of these options you propose be viable. As it is, we have to send up resupply ships every few months and that's only to low earth orbit. How do we resupply them if they're millions of miles away?

-Wolf sends

 

[Shocon]

That would be true if the ISS was manned, but the reducing cost of resupply missions might offset that problem. It wouldn't be an issue for a giant unmanned space probe, especially if it had a solar. nuclear or ion propulsion system. Maybe just sell/give it to Musk - he could probably come up with some inventive ways to use it.

 

[steve_foston]

There must be a way to use the ISS more constructively at the end of its 'active' life than simply (and safely?) de-orbit it into the Pacific ocean. At some point it will need to be decommissioned but why not move it to the moon and de-orbit it as an artefact of our time to a supporting cradle on the moon's surface. Like the pyramids were to the ancient Egyptians this important historical evidence of our own civilisation's engineering prowess could be kept safely on the Moon and studied over a long time- future centuries. There it could still provide important science on the further evolution of fungi and micro-organisms in space that already exist within the ISS, how materials and electronics breakdown over time in space, etc. Even the space toilets will provide future archaeologists with valuable information to study. It may also provide a bit of boost to the space tourism industry as something to go and see on the moon. We must protect our space history for future generations.

 

[serhiy1635]

All the discussion seems to be about how to plan the fiery descent of the ISS to Earth. Since the ISS seems to have possibilities for a fairly long lifetime I wonder if consideration should be given to accelerating the ISS out of Earth orbit an into a new mission - lunar orbit -Mars orbit - solar orbit - deep space exploration mission (attach solar sails???). It could be manned temporarily or it could be filled with a multitude of technologies. Seem like a waste of money to put such a huge construction into earth orbit and then destroy it rather than thinking about new missions that take advantage of the fact that it is already off the planet.

That`s a good point. It would be better to invest this money to another project . But still we spend a lot of money on space exploration while a big amount of Earth`s population lives in hunger.

 

[steve_foston]

Fair comment but the money spent internationally on space exploration is only a tiny proportion of the Earth's resources and the cost/benefits are potentially enormous. Poverty and hunger arise from the greed of the few and the suppression of the many both within and between countries.

 

[Shocon]

That`s a good point. It would be better to invest this money to another project . But still we spend a lot of money on space exploration while a big amount of Earth`s population lives in hunger.

I agree completely that we should spend more on issues such as climate control, hunger, medicare and other humanitarian concerns, but the reality is that we will forever more be going out into space to learn and explore. It's in our nature and probably necessary for the long-term survival of our species from things like the inevetible extinction events that we know can occur from time to time.

 

[serhiy1635]

Space exploration this a thing that we also must have. Such projects like Starlink or satellites for weather forecast are very important for humanity because these project make life for people easier and better.

 

[Robert Hags]

Disease and hunger is something that has always existed and will continue to exist. This is not a problem of space exploration, but the economic system of the world. Peripheral countries will always be poor as they are used by the great powers due to their economic (and in some ways, religious) restrictions. And the space industry must continue to develop. People have to look up to the stars because if humanity wants to survive as a species then it needs to colonize other planets. This will be the key to our survival.

Space exploration this a thing that we also must have. Such projects like Starlink or satellites for weather forecast are very important for humanity because these project make life for people easier and better.

 

[serhiy1635]

That amount of money that is about to be spent on some space projects can be donated to some needs of those people who starve or have health problems, or such stuff like ecology and climate change.
I don`t say that space projects shouldn`t be invested, but we should not forget the issues we have on Earth.

 

[Robert Hags]

As I said above, this is a problem of the economic system itself. First you need to study this issue. Today, we cannot abandon enterprises that emit harmful substances. Also, completely ecological enterprises do not exist, since in the process of manufacturing something there will always be something that will need to be thrown away (in any aggregate state). In addition, all laws that "regulate" the issue of harmful emissions are nothing, since there are no sanctions for those who do not adhere to them. All countries strive for the economic well-being of their citizens, as well as primacy in the political arena of the world, therefore no one will reduce their economic power due to climate change.
One way or another, I agree with you that the money needs to be redistributed for the needs of the population, but in this world this is impossible. And at the expense of the space industry, I can confidently say that it needs to be developed even more, we see that times are not calm and we need to develop technologies as soon as possible that can deliver people to at least Mars and terraform it for favorable conditions. At times, it seems that the technologies are stuck and nothing has really changed since the first launches.

That amount of money that is about to be spent on some space projects can be donated to some needs of those people who starve or have health problems, or such stuff like ecology and climate change.
I don`t say that space projects shouldn`t be invested, but we should not forget the issues we have on Earth.