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Path: utzoo!henry
From: henry@utzoo.UUCP (Henry Spencer)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Space Station from Shuttle Tanks
Message-ID: <6196@utzoo.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 2-Dec-85 17:49:06 EST
Article-I.D.: utzoo.6196
Posted: Mon Dec  2 17:49:06 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 2-Dec-85 17:49:06 EST
References: <8512011611.AA12940@s1-b.arpa>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
Lines: 20

> 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).

One possibility would be to revive the original Skylab "wet workshop"
concept.  Pre-install as much of the equipment as will stand being soaked
in liquid hydrogen for a while.	 On reaching orbit, vent the tank to space
for a while to clear out the hydrogen, and move in.  This concept hit some
snags during Skylab development, and was eventually abandoned, but Wernher
von Braun (for one) thought that the "wet workshop" approach could have
been made to work with a little more effort.  When it became clear that
there were going to be spare Saturn Vs around at the end of Apollo, the
"dry workshop" alternative became feasible, and the incentive for solving
the "wet workshop"'s problems went away.  Some features of Skylab, like the
metal-grid floors, were holdovers from the earlier concept.
-- 
				Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology
				{allegra,ihnp4,linus,decvax}!utzoo!henry