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From: dietz@SLB-DOLL.CSNET (Paul Dietz)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Space Station from Shuttle Tanks
Message-ID: <8512011611.AA12940@s1-b.arpa>
Date: Sun, 1-Dec-85 10:14:57 EST
Article-I.D.: s1-b.8512011611.AA12940
Posted: Sun Dec  1 10:14:57 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 2-Dec-85 03:35:43 EST
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The ARPA Internet
Lines: 27

Currently, the shuttle is maneuvered so the ET drops into the Indian
Ocean (or the Pacific on some launch paths).

As I understand it, detailed studies by NASA have shown that it's not
simple to turn an external tank into a space station.  A space station
is just too complicated (with wiring, electronics, temperature control &
ventilation, etc.) to make in orbit at this time (except by simple
assembly of prefab modules).

A near-term use of ET's is as reaction mass.  The simplest way to
do this, NASA has found, is to drop the ET on the end of a long tether
below (or above) the shuttle, then release it.  Unfortunately, any
mass saving in OMS fuel is used up by the mass of the cable.  This
idea could be used, however, to boost a space station into higher
orbits, since the cable could be left in orbit and used many times.

ET's can't just be left in low orbit without processing, since they
have a large cross section and experience considerable drag (as did
Skylab).  There are designs on the board for solar furnaces for melting
ET's, turing each into a twelve foot solid aluminum sphere.

If SDI ever comes to pass (which seems doubtful) a major problem
will be shielding the electronics against cosmic rays and
14.7 MeV neutrons from thermonuclear weapons.  The last are especially
nasty; the only way to shield against them is by using lots of mass.
Raw ET material would be good for this; one ET can be turned into
a solid aluminum sphere twelve feet across.