Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to Really, really, actually

Moon vs. space
Tom Brosz — (archived)

<One, simple volume of data, far far greater than that generated by reconnaissance satellites. Second, the need for completely lossless transmission of that data. Read large antennas, and large power supplies. Barring which, the need for reduction of that data remotely, with large computers and thus again large power supplies. Fourth, instrument size. Fifth, comparison of servicing versus replacement costs for a system which will remain in use forever.

A large, man-tended deep space station could easily meet any of these requirements, and be easier to construct, place on location, and deliver astronauts to for servicing, than any lunar surface facility.

You are sort of creating an artificial comparison, by assuming that our choices are either a lunar surface facility, or something resembling an oversized Hubble telescope.

In point of fact, something in deep space resembling a small pressurized space station, with the telescope portion probably a self-powered free-flyer some distance off, and the main data processing and servicing depot being located at the man-tended (probably not permanently manned, considering the hostile radiation environment) station. As many areas as possible would be pressurized, allowing more flexibility in the use of electronics and other support systems. As a man-tended system, not permanently manned, life support systems could be a lot more spartan than those of the ISS, with infrequent repair sorties bringing astronaut servicemen along with their own supplies of consumables and station-keeping propellants.

These large systems, much larger than a normal satellite, could be assembled piece by piece safely in low Earth orbit, and after extensive testing then transferred by propulsion modules to their final position--probably in a Lagrangian point. This solution would still be a lot cheaper and probably more effective than a lunar facility.

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