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From: al@ames.UUCP (Al Globus)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Shuttle External Tanks and Space Stations
Message-ID: <1302@ames.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 30-Dec-85 19:56:52 EST
Article-I.D.: ames.1302
Posted: Mon Dec 30 19:56:52 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 1-Jan-86 04:29:36 EST
References: <8512011611.AA12940@s1-b.arpa>, <6196@utzoo.UUCP> <6205@utzoo.UUCP>
Organization: NASA-Ames Research Center, Mtn. View, CA
Lines: 27

> *
>    While it maight be insuperably difficult to
> make a shuttle's external tank into a functioning
> space station (requiring all sorts of extra thermal
> control, attitude and orbit control, power supply
> and conditioning equipment, etc.), I don't believe
> that it'd be too difficult (or expensive) to carry
> one into orbit to be a >>part<< of a space station.
> Provided with (a) an airlock at the top,
> (b) a hatch between the oxygen and hydrogen tanks, and

Taylor and Associates designed a aft compartment that sits at
the end of the tank during launch.  It is habitable and manned.
When you get to orbit, you can work on the tank in a shirt sleeve
environment.

> (maybe a total of 1 ton, or two?), a >>vast<< amount
> of habitable volume would be added to the station!
> While this volume would not initially contain any useful
> equipment, I'm sure that uses would soon be found for it, 

One use: televised sports.
Another: a place for trash (a major problem on shuttle)
Another: a source of raw materials for manufacture
Another: a movie set for true 0-g space movies
Another: mounting area for space exposure experiments
Another: satellite repair hangers (possibly unpressurized