What should the next large scale space construction project be?

[todofwar]

So, the ISS is nearing the end of its lifespan, and while we may not build anything quite as big anytime soon I'm curious what people think the next large scale construction project should be. I'm torn between a Lunar research station and a LEO microgravity station capable of simulating gravity on Mars, Venus, Europa, etc. By having pods at different distances from the center you could actually simulate multiple gravity levels with a single rotating section. Another option could be an interplanetary ship, which can do crewed flybys of Mars or Venus, maybe even Jupiter. But without landers I'm not sure what the point would be.

Note that this is what you think it should be, not what it will be. I think in reality we're not likely to see something on that scale for a long time. 

[SuperFastJellyfish]

There's no money for either, but a lunar outpost or a space station at EML2 would be the obvious next steps.

[sojourner]

A station at eml2 as a gateway to the moon and the rest of the solar system for manned missions.

[todofwar]

What does EML2 buy you though? I would imagine you would want any refueling station in LEO since you burn so much dV getting to that point compared to the rest. 

[Mitchz95]

A manned station with artificial gravity, at least 0.4g. Maybe test something like Zubrin's Mars Direct design: a manned compartment attached to a counterweight by a long tether. And it should be fairly self-reliant, capable of going months or even years without fresh supplies.

[JebKeb]

A huge space station with construction areas and docking points for VASMIR tugs.

[Nibb31]

I think we need to return to the Moon and develop lunar access so that we can make it as routine as going to the ISS. For that, we need a destination. I would like to see a semi-permanent station similar to the Scott-Amundsen Antartica research station. Later on, an EML station would be a nice gateway/propellant depot for reusable lunar landers to secure the infrastructure.

That's all hard to do and a lot of hardware needs to be developed, but we can get started with SLS/Orion and just develop a modular lander.

[RainDreamer]

Interplanetary craft to mars!

....a girl can dream, right? It's in my name.

[ModZero]

I hope people will learn that large scale projects for their own sake aren't a good thing. So the next "large scale project" should be making sure the solar system is positively crawling with robots. 

[p1t1o]

Cheapest and most rudimentary, whilst remaining as safe and easy-to-use as is practically possible, and the lasrgest capacity possible - space hotel.

Get as many members of the public up there as possible for the lowest ticket price possible.

Too many people see space as a magazine article or a sci-fi movie.

The more we can disseminate the idea that space really is awesome, the more money will trickle in for "real" space projects.

Also, learning to live in space casually and normally is a big part of these "real" projects.

 

The below is my opinion and is not up for debate, I'm fully aware that other opinions are just as valid:

And for "real" space projects, I advocate near-earth activities designed to help produce the sort of technologies that we would need to do more serious stuff. I'm not that interested in sending 6 people to Mars for half a year, when if we develop the right things, in 50-100 years we could send a whole town instead, permanently. If we try to run before we can walk, all we do is push back the date when we can finally walk properly.

 

Edited April 13, 2016 by p1t1o

[RainDreamer]

16 minutes ago, p1t1o said:

The below is my opinion and is not up for debate, I'm fully aware that other opinions are just as valid:

And for "real" space projects, I advocate near-earth activities designed to help produce the sort of technologies that we would need to do more serious stuff. I'm not that interested in sending 6 people to Mars for half a year, when if we develop the right things, in 50-100 years we could send a whole town instead, permanently. If we try to run before we can walk, all we do is push back the date when we can finally walk properly.

 

Basically, space factories before space resorts?

[p1t1o]

14 minutes ago, RainDreamer said:

Basically, space factories before space resorts?

Not exactly, more like lets get good (really good) at near earth before we reach out to the solar system, nevermind beyond that....

Near-Earth resorts could be an excellent way to A) fund the rest, and B) actually a good way to build up the required experience - rather than straining really hard to do more advanced things in a piecemeal fashion.

If the general public become convinced that space is a real neat place to visit, rather than the sole territory of PhD engineer-pilots, then they might be a bit happier to have more money spent there.

[tater]

Assuming large is defined by an ISS-like volume, it'll be 1-2 BA-330s. Done. Not much of a construction project.

[Spaceception]

I'd like to see an international lunar base.

The ILB, hmm, doesn't have a ring to it.

[todofwar]

Another possibility would be a LEO dockyard, somewhere you can repair and upkeep a set of orbiters that never land. You could also have equipment to build satellites and other equipment, which could cut down on some costs since individual components are probably easier to launch on a rocket than sensitive equipment.  

[Andem]

Putting people back onto the moon, potentially a lunar base.

[Nibb31]

49 minutes ago, todofwar said:

Another possibility would be a LEO dockyard, somewhere you can repair and upkeep a set of orbiters that never land. You could also have equipment to build satellites and other equipment, which could cut down on some costs since individual components are probably easier to launch on a rocket than sensitive equipment.  

Individual components will cost the same as assembled equipment. Orbital assemble is several orders of magnitude more expensive than ground assembly, and that's not going to change any time soon.

[todofwar]

39 minutes ago, Nibb31 said:

Individual components will cost the same as assembled equipment. Orbital assemble is several orders of magnitude more expensive than ground assembly, and that's not going to change any time soon.

Well you could get away with cheaper launch systems. A pile of bolts and panels will tolerate higher g forces and vibrations than a delicate satellite. And you can send really sensitive components like mirrors seperately. Also cuts down the design requirements of the satellite itself, doesn't have to withstand a launch. 

[kunok]

Well seeing the reality I conform to make just another project. I think a EM2 can be a good place to start.

3 minutes ago, todofwar said:

Well you could get away with cheaper launch systems. A pile of bolts and panels will tolerate higher g forces and vibrations than a delicate satellite. And you can send really sensitive components like mirrors seperately. Also cuts down the design requirements of the satellite itself, doesn't have to withstand a launch. 

Even if you make a cheap launch with every new component, supposing every component cost the part proportional to the big one, you need a new service module with capability of control and positioning, and docking equipment.

Example: In the ISS the EEUU modules had the shuttle to assist the construction, so no service module. The Russian modules every one has their service module.

[DualDesertEagle]

If there was a legit way to kick conspiracy theorists' asses in a manner that no one could even IMAGINE to be faked while doing further research on the moon with modern tech I'd say DO IT

[StrandedonEarth]

It seems to me that both a lunar gateway and a lunar base are needed. A gateway is pointless without a base, and a base would be more difficult and expensive without a gateway. So we should probably develop both in parallel, which shouldn't be as expensive as it first sounds. Each mission can deliver a crew to the gateway and leave a module or tank there, and then continue on to deliver another component the surface to be tele-robotically added to the existing construction. This way a manned presence isn't needed on the surface until the surface base is fully operational, or at least habitable. Some surface structures, such as a FarSide radio antenna, wouldn't need a manned presence at all.

[Bill Phil]

14 hours ago, todofwar said:

What does EML2 buy you though? I would imagine you would want any refueling station in LEO since you burn so much dV getting to that point compared to the rest. 

Easy to get to the moon, easy to get to Earth, easy to get to interplanetary space.

[todofwar]

16 hours ago, ModZero said:

I hope people will learn that large scale projects for their own sake aren't a good thing. So the next "large scale project" should be making sure the solar system is positively crawling with robots. 

Sort of along these lines, maybe establishing a network of stations, one at LEO for repairs and maybe assembly of components that don't fit well on a rocket, one at EML1 from which you start assembling the space elevator (actually possible on the moon), one on the moon itself, and one at ELM2 

[SR]

An inflaitable cyclerle of taking 500 people to mars at a time, and a permanent settlement on Mars.