Re: DIY space transport

Joe Strout <joe@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> "Frank Scrooby" <X@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>> Can you build a DIY spacestation in 2-ton blocks?
>
>This is something I've thought about quite a bit. I believe you can, by
>producing a number of modules that are specialized in purpose and
>interior but all have basically the same shape and attachments. The
>standardized airlock attachments would also have standard ports for
>plumbing and wiring. Each would be about the size of a minivan; not
>roomy, but good enough for pioneers.
>[...]

I am nearly done with the first draft of a rather long piece for
The Space Review [sorry, to several reveiwers here who I initially
said I thought I would get it to 10 days ago-ish] which is a rebuttal
to an article they had a few weeks ago that argued that only large
module space stations are viable.

2-ton modules are sort of small. Five ton modules... appear to be
on the good side of the efficiency knee in the overall graph.

In some ways, five ton module stations may be more cost effective
than ten or twenty or one hundred ton stations; they will weigh
moderately more than 20 ton and up module based stations, but for
nearterm station concepts the launch cost is rather far down in
the noise. And most of the stuff which makes more smaller modules
seem more expensive vanishes or inverts if you study it hard enough.

Getting to the point that it is no longer a trivial side factor
is a major goal of serious space development.


-george william herbert
gherbert@xxxxxxxxx / gherbert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

.