In Midst of Budget Woes, NASA Contemplates a Manned Waypoint In Orbit Near the Moon - Polidicks

[QUOTE]The NASA budget that went to Capitol Hill yesterday dashed any plans to initiate new Mars exploration missions in the next few years, but amid the belt-tightening SPACE reports that NASA is exploring another idea that, while much closer to home, is still quite ambitious--the building of a manned waypoint (read: space station) at the Lagrangian point EML-2 on the far side of the moon. This international space station (but we’ll have to think of a better name) would serve as a jumping off place for new science missions as well as a gateway to other destinations like asteroids, Martian moons, and--eventually--Mars. NASA, its Mars ambitions on hold for now, is viewing such a waypoint as a near-term exploration asset with the capacity to deliver new science and technologies within the decade. It would incorporate NASA’s core next-gen capabilities--the planned heavy lift rocket known as the Space Launch System (SLS) and the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle--as well as technologies contributed by international partners And in the near-term, it could put humans further out into space than they’ve ever been--the kind of superlative mission the agency as lacked since the glory days of the Apollo Program. According to a recent memo, NASA is fielding a team charged with developing a plan for exploring Earth-moon libration point 2 (Earth-moon libration point is equivalent to a Lagrange point, but specific to the Earth and moon), a point in space where the pull of two bodies roughly balance out, making it possible to more or less “park” a spacecraft there. From EML-2, on the lunar far side, humans aboard a station could direct telerobotics on the side of our satellite that has been rarely studied (new lunar science!) while also conducting research into long-term deep space habitaiton (new human spaceflight science!) while giving NASA’s next-generation manned space vehicles a destination (a new place to go!). The idea, of course, being to build on the station. Start with some lunar science and some new deep space science enabled by being in the “quiet zone” on the far side of the moon. And after learning a bit about the effects of habitation so far out in space, use the waypoint as both a technology test bed and eventual enabler for exploration further and further into space. Of course, this all sounds really, really expensive. Which brings us back to NASA’s core problem this morning--a lack of funds for big flagship projects. We’re ducking out on commitments to the ESA and cutting costs elsewhere this week. But talk is cheap enough. A group of ISS partners is meeting in Paris this week and will likely talk through the idea. The study is due back to NASA by March 30.[/QUOTE] Source: [url]http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-02/midst-budget-woes-nasa-contemplates-manned-space-station-near-moon[/url]

I wonder if it would be practical to partially reuse the ISS for this, might save some cash.

[QUOTE=NorthernFall;34695348]I wonder if it would be practical to partially reuse the ISS for this, might save some cash.[/QUOTE] Isn't the ISS full of mold and other shit, because it's almost impossible to clean? I mean you can't just open a window to get rid of stale air and dust.

[QUOTE=Van-man;34695397]Isn't the ISS full of mold and other shit, because it's almost impossible to clean? I mean you can't just open a window to get rid of stale air and dust.[/QUOTE] Heh, if only :v:. No I meant as in we've already potentially got 450,000kg's worth of expensive scientific equipment like solar panels, radiation proof housing, research equipment and docking modules etc up in orbit around the earth, surely the main costs of the whole project would be actually getting the stuff out of the earths atmosphere?

[QUOTE=Van-man;34695397]Isn't the ISS full of mold and other shit, because it's almost impossible to clean? I mean you can't just open a window to get rid of stale air and dust.[/QUOTE] Surely they have ways of recycling and cleaning the air?

[QUOTE=NorthernFall;34695348]I wonder if it would be practical to partially reuse the ISS for this, might save some cash.[/QUOTE] Doubt it, they would have to refit the ISS with better radiation shielding and stuff like that. Spoiler alert, the ISS is too big to bring back down to earth to do that stuff. It'd be cheaper and wiser to start from scratch.

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;34695464]Surely they have ways of recycling and cleaning the air?[/QUOTE] it's not the air, it's the other materials I think. [editline]14th February 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Fueger;34695503]Doubt it, they would have to refit the ISS with better radiation shielding and stuff like that. Spoiler alert, the ISS is too big to bring back down to earth to do that stuff. It'd be cheaper and wiser to start from scratch.[/QUOTE] depends on how advanced our current space construction technology is. If they could just launch said shielding and equipment into space and fit it in space, it would be a whole lot cheaper than launching a new station.

I like how they're doing cool shit even with budget cuts. SPACE IS CRAZY

Bad idea, there's space Nazi's on the dark side of the moon.

[QUOTE=Van-man;34695397]Isn't the ISS full of mold and other shit, because it's almost impossible to clean? I mean you can't just open a window to get rid of stale air and dust.[/QUOTE] That was MIR, they have better filters/duct work in this one

nasa is way cooler than what alot of government money goes towards and darpa too, they can join in on the coolness when they want

It will surely be interesting once the Falcon Heavy is up and running, hopefully dropping launch costs 10 fold.

I like it. It's not like we should be throwing a shit-ton of money at space when we've got so many issues here to worry about.

NASA only gets 0.5% of the federal budget, and that makes me cry.

It is funny how army spends money buying ipads with their huge budgets and nasa has to hire accountants to research stuff.

[QUOTE=Uncle Bourbon;34695571]Bad idea, there's space Nazi's on the dark side of the moon.[/QUOTE] Yeah, and demons on mars. NASA just can't win.

[QUOTE=JohnFisher89;34695907]That was MIR, they have better filters/duct work in this one[/QUOTE] They still have a mold problem.

NASA just doesn't give a fuck about budget cuts.

[QUOTE=Sgt. Lulz;34697886]NASA just doesn't give a fuck about budget cuts.[/QUOTE] No, NASA just doesn't know what a budget is.

[QUOTE=Techno-Man;34697470]NASA only gets 0.5% of the federal budget, and that makes me cry.[/QUOTE] When they should be getting 20% of the budget :I

This is a good idea not only for future generations but, to study the full effects on the human body in space.

This really sounds awesome. I hope they make it out of bigger modules than ISS and have artificial gravity on it so that more people can stay and longer.

[QUOTE=ewitwins;34698709]When they should be getting 20% of the budget :I[/QUOTE] Maybe with a astronomically large amount like 5%, we'd be setting up discos on Europa. But 20% is just ridiculous, a government needs other things too.

[QUOTE=DesolateGrun;34701241]Maybe with a astronomically large amount like 5%, we'd be setting up discos on Europa.[/QUOTE] That [SUB](somehow)[/SUB] made me imagine astronauts doing the boogie to some [URL="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a4gyJsY0mc"]cheesy song[/URL] in full spacewalk gear on a planet far away.

And next year they'll scale back their plans again, and the year after that, and the year after that, until NASA is begging for enough money to put 4 D motors in their model rockets instead of 3.

[QUOTE=NorthernFall;34695460]Heh, if only :v:. No I meant as in we've already potentially got 450,000kg's worth of expensive scientific equipment like solar panels, radiation proof housing, research equipment and docking modules etc up in orbit around the earth, surely the main costs of the whole project would be actually getting the stuff out of the earths atmosphere?[/QUOTE] Actually you'd be surprised. The ISS is in Low Earth Orbit. In fact, it's still skimming the earth's atmosphere, to the point where they have to rotate the giant solar panels parallel to the flight path to reduce drag. It's in a decaying orbit, very far from the point where you can attach a couple retro rockets to it and fly it to the moon. People often have the misconception that once something is in space, it becomes incredibly easy to move. The ISS is still trapped fairly deep in the earth's gravity well. [editline]14th February 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Techno-Man;34697470]NASA only gets 0.5% of the federal budget, and that makes me cry.[/QUOTE] .4% actually.