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One thing that has always disappointed me about the program is that they liquid tanks were discarded. They seemed to me to have a lot of potential value in space. Those tanks were nearly in orbit when they were discarded and still contained a small amount of unused hydrogen and oxygen. It seems to me that at least some of those tanks could have been lifted into and parked in high, stable orbits, using residual fuel and oxygen and small satellite maneuvering engines.

Those tanks could easily handle one atmosphere and were insulated. They could have formed the cores of future space factories, for zero gravity manufacturing research and tourism, and whatever else turns out to be better done in space.

Eventually those things will probably happen, but if there were giant habitable tanks sitting in orbit unoccupied and vacant, it would likely happen sooner.

There's always the could-have-beens.

Here's a good link demonstrating the capability of wireless power transmission.

http://www.spaceislandgroup.com/biz/NASAPowerP1.mov

The Space Island Group is proposing that we use the empty external tanks to build space stations.

Those things are the size of 747s! They're already basically in orbit when we throw them away. They contain cryogenics that can easily be let to boil away cleanly. Why not use them?

http://www.spaceislandgroup.com/home.html

For some quick ideas see: http://www.spaceislandgroup.com/manufacturing.html

Oh, come on. The space station has been up there for a long time, and the first link you come up with starts with only forward looking statements :"A substantial revenue source will be the manufacture of new materials and products in free-flying, Micro Gravity Geode Modules surrounding the Space Island ring station."

That is not an example of science being done today on the ISS. It's just an example of _development_ somebody _thinks_ they may do _sometime_ in the future on some kind of space station, based on some experiments done in the past on the Space Shuttle ( !=ISS ).

This is complete fud. There is lots of interesting research that has/is going on in the ISS. Any attempt to say otherwise is just ignorant.

For some quick ideas see: http://www.spaceislandgroup.com/manufacturing.html

or for a more detailed list of publicized experiments try: http://exploration.nasa.gov/programs/station/list. html

Some of interest I've found:
http://exploration.nasa.gov/programs/station/CGBA- APS.html (Antibiotic Production)
http://exploration.nasa.gov/programs/station/BBND. html (Radiation Damage)
http://exploration.nasa.gov/programs/station/APCF. html (Protein Crystal Growth)
http://exploration.nasa.gov/programs/station/Foam. html (Viscous Liquid Foam/ Metallic Glass)

yup. exactly like their Geode station concept.

The thing I don't get and IANARS (rocket scientist...) is why the whole structure of ISS and other space station concepts is typically so specialized. Long booms that only fill a few purposes. Very few (at least from views I've seen) duplication of parts. No clear ability to expand. Sort of like we're building knowing we're gonna throw it away. Why not make some plan for the future, continued use of it. It'd be cool if 100 years from now, tourists could view the original ISS parts still buried in the heart of some sprawling space city.

You mean like the http://www.spaceislandgroup.com/home.html guys?

Right now a small private company (Liftport), not NASA or the Air Force, is in the lead on revolutionary space travel.

They aren't the only private company planning independent space travel. For example, Space Island Group is planning to build multiple space stations by the end of the decade. They have a lot of former NASA engineers working for them.

Then comes the expense of building something so big, right? Not really. It doesn't have to be one giant solid structure; it can be two or more modules tethered together (redundantly).

Oh, and it's too bad that NASA currently throws away perfectly good space habitats on every Shuttle mission.

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There are lots of companies planning the future of space. Space Island Group plans to construct several space stations before the end of the decade. Space Adventures is going to offer flights into space for $98,000 a person. And I've seen several proposals to plan the mining of Helium-3 from the moon that could serve as a long term power source for earth. It's good to see the private sector getting involved here, we definitely need it to improve the cost and feasibility of long term projects. We just aren't going to get it from govt. funding that is capable of spending $600 for a toilet seat.

The Space Island Group is planning to build space stations with 1/3 the gravity of earth before the end of the decade. And civilians will be able to go there.

Link would help ;)

NASA must have a giant stick up its ass to bring the ETs almost completely into orbit, only to let them burn up in the atmosphere.

I still haven't heard a reasonable explaination as to why this great idea has been ignored for so long. IMO, it's because the idea of "Reuse/Recycle/Reduce" is not compatible with getting maximum tax funding. They'd rather blow billions on a shiny new ISS (where maintenance consumes scientific work) than on boosting and retrofitting the large ETs.

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A real "hacker" would have recognized the huge value in boosting the external tanks a tiny bit further so they could make orbit and be repurposed later.

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Well, you'd probably give a few newly-unemployed government workers a heart attack - the shock of having to join a productive workfoce, doing actual work, is more stress than they can handle. :)

As long as you're dictator for 15 minutes, can you order NASA to stop throwing away perfectly good space station components?

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I have a few interesting links to private projects, that might just show the path to commerce in space, such as tourism, mining and research.

Artemis Project - A private venture to establish a permanent self supporting community on the moon.
Space Frontier Foundation - Want to open up the new frontier for everyone.
Space Island Group - Among other things, they wish to creat low earth orbit commercial space stations.
The X Prize - A prize dedicated to boost the development of private space crafts.

Ok, this was probably off topic, but I guess that my point is, governments will probably not be able to finance all the space projects. There are not enough money. The private sector can do this. Competition is always good, and I think that it will some day make it possible for anyone to go into space.

I can see a possible future where a team of scientists at a university will send a mission to Pluto, mining companies establishing mines on the moon, you will go to the low earth orbit space hotel for your vacation. Ok, this is far in the future, but I think it will happen one day.