Re: The ISS has 3 crew members.... right? How does 30,000 crew sound?
That would be the result of building a functional skyhook. We may be able to build and maintain a space station with a permanent crew compliment of 30,000 !!!
Astronautics would become a profession, a trade, a business. Imagine the commerce that would be needed to support 30,000 people in space! Businesses, retailers, maybe even primary industries could move into orbit and beyond.