NASA and Roscosmos discuss new Space Station and possibly a joint Mars Mission

[Albert VDS]

It's only a few weeks ago when the media reported that Roscosmos wanted to leave the ISS after 2024 and build their own space station: http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/02/24/russian-space-agency-endorses-iss-until-2024/

But now it's reported that NASA and Roscosmos came to an agreement to build a new space station and possibly a joint Mars mission:

http://rt.com/news/244797-russia-us-new-space-station/

“We have agreed that Roscosmos and NASA will be working together on the program of a future space station," Roscosmos chief Igor Komarov said during a news conference on Saturday.

The two agencies will be unifying their standards and systems of manned space programs, according to Komarov. “This is very important to future missions and stations.â€Â

The ISS life cycle was to expire in 2020. “Under the ISS program the door will be open to other participants,†Komarov told reporters.

[Frida Space]

It looks like they didn't agree 100%. Looks more like 0%: http://spacenews.com/nasa-says-no-plans-for-iss-replacement-with-russia/

[sgt_flyer]

It looks like they didn't agree 100%. Looks more like 0%: http://spacenews.com/nasa-says-no-plans-for-iss-replacement-with-russia/

Mmh, i read the article, the clicbait title is a bit misleading nasa did not confirm or infirm anything about a new space station - they just said that they are currently focusing their work on ISS till 2024, and did not say wether or not they would participate to a new one. (He only said that he hopes the private sector will be the one to work towards a new LEO space station )

[Bill Phil]

We need more space stations in LEO. Everywhere, actually...

[Frida Space]

Mmh, i read the article, the clicbait title is a bit misleading nasa did not confirm or infirm anything about a new space station - they just said that they are currently focusing their work on ISS till 2024, and did not say wether or not they would participate to a new one. (He only said that he hopes the private sector will be the one to work towards a new LEO space station )

Yes, however given Nasa's whole path-to-mars thing, Orion and SLS, I guess a new Space Station would be just an obstacle, at this point. If they can get the private sector to work on it, they absolutely will. Sure, they might give them a bit of help, but they'd be better off without it.

[Streetwind]

We need more space stations in LEO. Everywhere, actually...

China has been advertising extensively for international partnerships for a planned station of theirs in the mid-2020's. Sadly there's an US law which forbids NASA from doing anything at all with China, but ESA has indicated a level of interest. What ultimately comes of it will be known only later though, as the project takes shape. Right now it's more a statement of intent and an item on a roadmap with several major steps to check off before it.

[Frozen_Heart]

I'd like a new ISS, one with more purpose to and capable of things such as orbital refuelling and assembly.

Testing centrifugal gravity could be useful as well. I hope that this turns out to be more than a rumour.

[Moon Goddess]

He only said that he hopes the private sector will be the one to work towards a new LEO space station

This is so sad. Why do we even have NASA anymore we don't want to do anything just pay SpaceX to do everything. I love SpaceX but not everything should be them WE need to do stuff.

[GluttonyReaper]

This is so sad. Why do we even have NASA anymore we don't want to do anything just pay SpaceX to do everything. I love SpaceX but not everything should be them WE need to do stuff.

Well .. my hope is that this is all part of some kind of plan to offload all the LEO stuff to the private sector, so as to leave NASA funding more open to doing other stuff like ARM. But then NASA would be paying to use anything the private sector makes anyway, so I'm not fully sure it's even an advantage in terms of money.

[Nibb31]

This is so sad. Why do we even have NASA anymore we don't want to do anything just pay SpaceX to do everything. I love SpaceX but not everything should be them WE need to do stuff.

SpaceX only does things because NASA pays them to do it. It's just a government contractor like any other.

[KerbMav]

Would the private sector even care about keeping LEO as un-Kessler as possible?

[SargeRho]

Yes, definitely. It's a lot easier to not fly through a constant hailstorm.

[okan170]

A far more likely scenario for LEO is that mentioned by Charlie Bolden during the recent BEAM PR events. NASA would probably like to act as an "anchor customer" on a commercial station (Bigelow in this case). Much like commercial crew, NASA would probably be looking to pay a lease thats more like a couple hundred million dollars vs the price of owning and operating ISS which is something like $3 billion.

The discussions with Roscosmos seem to be surrounding the possibility of working on a L1 or L2 space station, but it seems to not be any more advanced than, "We discussed it and though it sounded neat."

[Technical Ben]

We need more space stations in LEO. Everywhere, actually...

If there is a need then it happens. If there is no need it does not. We currently have 1 in use, and none in production. Make of that what you wish.

Yes, definitely. It's a lot easier to not fly through a constant hailstorm.

I wish I'd worked where you have to build such enthusiasm for that success.

[Bill Phil]

If there is a need it is not necessarily done. That's pretty much the definition of humanity.

Anyways, Tiangong might become operational within a few years. Might...

[magnemoe]

A far more likely scenario for LEO is that mentioned by Charlie Bolden during the recent BEAM PR events. NASA would probably like to act as an "anchor customer" on a commercial station (Bigelow in this case). Much like commercial crew, NASA would probably be looking to pay a lease thats more like a couple hundred million dollars vs the price of owning and operating ISS which is something like $3 billion.

The discussions with Roscosmos seem to be surrounding the possibility of working on a L1 or L2 space station, but it seems to not be any more advanced than, "We discussed it and though it sounded neat."

Yes, I would rather be more surprised if they did not talk with the Russians and others about an followup station.

I however fail to see the purpose of an L1 station at this time, it make sense if you have enough traffic to moon an way station makes sense, even so how expensive is it to keep an spaceship in moon orbit if you have to evacuate an moon base?

[cpast]

Yes, definitely. It's a lot easier to not fly through a constant hailstorm.

And it's a lot easier to fish when fish populations are high. And yet overfishing is a thing.

[magnemoe]

And it's a lot easier to fish when fish populations are high. And yet overfishing is a thing.

An pretty different issue, most operators in geostationary orbit is commercial. They tend to use the graveyard orbit for old satellites and is take care so you don't get tings blowing up there as this might well affect their bottom line, it might also give problems with various governments.

Fishing is probably an million minor actors, overfishing is also managable in well regulated areas, an serious problem in international water where its less control and outside corrupt states where anybody can either buy and license under the table or pay off the coast guard.