International Space Station: Let It Crash and Burn
by Bill Muckler, TLB contributing author
On Dec. 6, 1998, the crew of space shuttle mission STS-88 began construction of the International Space Station, attaching the U.S.-built Unity node and the Russian-built Zarya module together in orbit. (Image Credit: NASA)
Excerpt From Chapter 9 of 20/20: A Clear Vision for America:
The ISS requires extensive maintenance by expensive Extra Vehicular Activities. The magazine ‘The American Enterprise’ reports, for instance, that ISS astronauts ‘now spend 85 percent of their time on construction and maintenance alone. The Astronomical Society of the Pacific states the orbit is rather highly inclined, which makes Russian launches cheaper, but US launches more expensive. This was an intended design point, to encourage Russian involvement with the ISS—and Russian involvement saved the project from abandonment in the wake of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, but the choice has increased the costs of completing the ISS.
The House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology decides how much money NASA will get. And because politicians aren’t experts in space travel, they will hold hearings to discuss what they will do with the ISS in the next seven years. Options are to let private industry take it over? Let it crash and burn into the South Pacific? Let the program keep running?
Let it Crash and Burn
The United States needs its own Space Station. America does not need a partner, and it surely doesn’t need to be in space with the incompetent, corrupt Russians who pay a small portion of the operating costs. Other partners pay next to nothing.
What if relations with Russia deteriorate further? How will this work? Who will pay for what? Who will trust who, with American lives in space?
This was a flawed arrangement in the first place; and the ISS was put in the wrong apogee. The apogee was to suit the Russians which made it more expensive and unwieldy for the United States. This was always a bad deal.
The International Space Station has been the target of much criticism over the years.
It’s difficult to fall prey to the sunk cost fallacy, but it’s thorny to abandon a massive project just after we’ve finished building it. The ISS has had significant upgrades since assembly began in 1998, and it was only in the last few years that the final modules went up. This is not to say that the ISS should be funded forever. The ISS can be taken over by industry, if private entities are interested in developing products for use in outer space.
Russian Soyuz spacecraft, docked to the International Space Station. Although Earth is close by for station missions, NASA’s standard of medical care for station has assumed a return to Earth could take days. (Image Credit: NASA)
America Craves Leadership to Make Galactic Decisions
More from Chapter 9:
This is important. What is the future of America in space?” Ron asked himself. “The USA should vigorously consider its own space station. We should not depend on Russia for this, or anything. We can have partners. The USA should revive its astronaut program. Space station crews should continue to learn how to function and live in space and learn how to build technology and hardware that will survive and function in the future. The space station should be the launching pad to the moon and other planets. This is essential if we are to explore deep space.
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The Muckster will continue to keep an eye open and an ear to the ground to keep my readers informed. I am here to lead you into a bright future with 20/20: A Clear Vision for Our future.You are my inspiration. Be a part of the narrative.
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Spiritus meus es tu. Ego semper fidelis.
God Bless us all and God Save our America. Our Constitution, our Bill of Rights, our American Flag, our culture, our country, our civilization, our currency, our children, our liberty, our safety and our future need you now more than ever. ~Bill
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