If all you intend to have is single launch, single use equipment, then we may as well give up on the idea of a spacefaring civilization. It's never going to happen that way. At some point, we are going to have to start launching robust equipment that can be used for long periods and brought back to Earth for refurbishment. A shuttle type craft is going to be needed for such things.
Equipment (from the Moon or elsewhere) in need of refurbishment can be brought back to an orbiting station during supply runs and stored until it's picked up by a shuttle that was launched to deliver other equipment or supplies. One day, two way traffic will be a reality, and the sooner the infrastructure is put into place the sooner it'll happen.
Space/Science » in reply to bringing back what?
Well...
The whole thread (37 posts)
- Once the STS system is cancelled, how will large segments be transported to ISS?
- Hopefully all the heavy lift for ISS will be done first.
- re: There will always be heavy equipment to return to Earth so that doesn't work. (n/t)
- Why? I don't buy the assumption.
- I didn't say it was great.
- Do it the MIR / Skylab way
- re: I also didn't say you did. The real problem is the downhill leg of the journey. Non of the solutions right now take that in to consideration. (n/t)
- Not at the rate they're going
- re: There will always be heavy equipment to return to Earth so that doesn't work. (n/t)
- Hopefully all the heavy lift for ISS will be done first.
