How the private space industry could take over lower Earth orbit — and make money off it
What will happen when the International Space Station ends?
By Loren Grush@lorengrush Feb 16, 2018, 12:19pm EST
The Trump administration wants to end direct NASA funding for the International Space Station by 2025 — but that doesn’t necessarily mean the US will stop sending people into orbit around Earth by then. Instead, NASA hopes to transition the domain of lower Earth orbit, where the space station resides, to the commercial space industry over the next seven years. But what would it take for private space companies to take over this area of space — and what exactly would they do up there?
An option would be for one or more companies to take over full-time management of the International Space Station (ISS). But the orbiting lab is expensive to fly: NASA spends between $3 billion and $4 billion each year to keep the station afloat, and that’s money that most commercial companies either don’t have or aren’t willing to spend. Multiple astronauts and flight controllers also have to work around the clock to keep the ISS running at all times, and the private sector may not have the personnel or the resources to take on such a daunting task.
A more likely scenario is that commercial companies could at some point operate a cache of private space stations in lower Earth orbit. Such vehicles would likely be smaller, less expensive, and less complex than the ISS, but they would allow continued access to this key area of space. Lower Earth orbit is a great testing ground for the technologies needed for missions to the Moon and Mars, which NASA has its eye on. With private stations, NASA could buy time and space on these modules to continue doing tests in microgravity. Private space stations could also be used to create entirely new types of revenue, serving as places to do in-space manufacturing of satellites or platforms for tourists to visit.
The main unknown is whether or not the commercial space industry will be ready to take up this mantle by 2025. A few companies are working on habitats and technologies that could do the trick, but no one has demonstrated a standalone private station yet. And if the ISS goes out of commission before commercial companies are prepared to step in, the US could see a gap in access to lower Earth orbit.
The Rest of a really good article
https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/16/1701 ... vatization
Many, I know have mixed opinions on Our Earthly Humans going into Space. Mankind's Destiny will never be on an opinion poll ,it Is what it Is. It is not like our own and personal Destinies of choice. Who wants to stay here on Planet Hell, a permanent Ground Hogs Day.
Not me, that's for sure! If you could "Escape" where would you want to go?