<If there's a tool that's unique in its kind, none other existing, it's going to be very expensive as it needs to withstand vibrations, high G's (liftoff) and temperature extremes (in space)...

The idea that designing something for use in space like a space station is so difficult that it justifies huge expenses is largely a myth. As an engineer I can tell you that designing something for use under the ocean is a lot harder, and the environment a lot less forgiving to materials and structures. The inside of your car engine sees temperatures a lot more extreme than those in orbit.

A manned space structure in orbit requires enduring a vacuum on one side and about 15 psi on the other. A submarine is in a corrosive environment, and the pressure differentials can be thousands of pounds per square inch. The loads of launch are trivial compared to earthquake loads on a large building.

It isn't that hard. NASA makes it a lot harder than it has to be, because one of their goals is stretching the technology.