ISS Exploration Vehicle

[therocketjohn]

I'm just curious if anyone knows the technical limitations that would keep the international space station from being converted into a deep space exploration vehicle?

 

[Boris_Badenov]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I'm just curious if anyone knows the technical limitations that would keep the international space station from being converted into a deep space exploration vehicle? <br />Posted by therocketjohn</DIV><br /><br /><font size="2">A massive engine & an even bigger fuel tank would be a good start. I really don't think it could take the stresses of&nbsp;acceleration & deceleration.</font></p><p><font size="2">Bigelow modules are supposed to be able to take it though.</font></p><p><br />http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Forums/#<br /><img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/6/2/768481d5-6b9a-48ae-a275-1eced4f37435.Medium.jpg" alt="" /></p><p><br /><img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/7/1/97c2c472-23d4-4a7b-8184-d669ce2d5b20.Medium.jpg" alt="" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><br /><img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/4/1/a4ece700-5388-455a-8101-d6196a26491e.Medium.gif" alt="" /></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>

 

[Cygnus_2112]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I'm just curious if anyone knows the technical limitations that would keep the international space station from being converted into a deep space exploration vehicle? <br /> Posted by therocketjohn</DIV></p><p>&nbsp;The thermal system was designed for LEO and not deep space.&nbsp; The guidance system can only be used in LEO. &nbsp; The shielding is only for a LEO environment. &nbsp; The propulsion system has too low of thrust and the structure can't take higher thrust </p>

 

[qso1]

<p><font color="#800080">I'm just curious if anyone knows the technical limitations that would keep the international space station from being converted into a deep space exploration vehicle? Posted by therocketjohn</font></p><p>In addition to the technical limitations already mentioned here. Theres the problem of cost and will. The U.S. lost the will for deep space exploration after Apollo due largely to the high cost associated with it. Despite the fact that those high costs are dwarfed by government spending on such wasteful affairs as the S&L scandal, deficit spending, and currently Iraq...the civil rebuild adventure.</p><p>If costs were put in proper perspective, we wouldn't need to turn an existing spacecraft not designed for deep space exploration into a deep exploration vehicle. We'd simply build the vehicle best optimized for that task.&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>