WashPost: The Space Station Is All Decked Out. Give It Somewhere To Go.

[mjah]

As space buffs know, the ISS really isn't doing anything these days except getting built and giving the Space Shuttles somewhere to go. And the foreseeable future seems only marginally more interesting for the poor ISS.

Although it's riddled with about a million practical problems, here's an interesting idea to ponder about a $156 billion hammer that has no nail to call its own.

...Send it to Mars.

It's All Decked Out. Give It Somewhere To Go.

[zoony]

I don't see anything in there about overcoming solar radiation / cosmic rays

It would also need to be turned into a flying gas can with a lander module attached.

I'd much rather see the $$ used to launch a next generation space telescope.

[talk show host]

wouldnt work.

The ISS doesnt offer enough protection from the radiation that the crew would encounter on such a long mission. There also isnt nearly enough room for supplies, most noteably oxygen. Sure, they could add a hydroponics module, but i doubt there is enough space to have enough food/oxygen to support 5 humans for the 2-3 years the whole trip would require. I am not a scientist and with my limited knowledge, i know this is about the stupidest idea i've ever heard. i imagine real scientists could come up with atleast 100 reasons why such a mission would be completely impossible.

[ChocolateCitySkin]

wouldnt work.

The ISS doesnt offer enough protection from the radiation that the crew would encounter on such a long mission. There also isnt nearly enough room for supplies, most noteably oxygen. Sure, they could add a hydroponics module, but i doubt there is enough space to have enough food/oxygen to support 5 humans for the 2-3 years the whole trip would require. I am not a scientist and with my limited knowledge, i know this is about the stupidest idea i've ever heard. i imagine real scientists could come up with atleast 100 reasons why such a mission would be completely impossible.

and probably a 100 reasons why it could be possible

[DjTj]

I'd much rather see the $$ used to launch a next generation space telescope.

That's already in the works:

http://www.jwst.nasa.gov/index.html

[EersSkins05]

When are our antimatter warp engines going to be online, anyway?

What's with all this FUEL?

[dreamingwolf]

http://everything2.com/e2node/How%2520much%2520plant%2520life%2520is%2520needed%2520to%2520keep%2520a%2520person%2520alive%2520in%2520a%2520sealed%2520room%253F

that article claims that you would need 2.5 meters of sugar cane to supply one person with enough air to breath. Im sure it wouldnt work out that neatly in a space ship setting, but I bet a dedicated module to producing oxygen for the crew is not unreasonable.

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

How much would it cost to gerry-rig this thing into a MARS transport in space compared to what it would cost to build an actual transport on Earth?

[Sarge]

They need rig it to build/service the next generation of rockets going to the moon. Save an ass load on launch costs

[dreamingwolf]

I would like to see more about the propulsion systems they are talking about

[DjTj]

I would like to see more about the propulsion systems they are talking about

Here's a description of the ion thrusters that were on Deep Space 1: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast15jun_1.htm

[dreamingwolf]

you make them twin drives I will back them