Beyond Cylindrical Modular Building Approach

AugustusMinimus

I'm just wondering, but in the short term, are we limited to building cylindrical modules on earth and then launching them in terms of building space stations and future larger spacecraft for asteroid and possible Mars missions.

From what I can tell, the largest building within the next 25 years will be a Mars ship which at minimum will contain a large habitation module and a lander. In addition, depending on need, a earth re-entry capsule may be added but this adds unnecessary mass to the craft considering the capsule is really only used for launch and re-entry.

Anyways, will we ever get beyond this approach for instance for a space station. Can a large spacecraft/spacestation be built in orbit which would have a much larger cross section and an external airtight skin ? Is this simply beyond our technology and would it even be desireable considering the modular approach is a risk averse way of going around things as seperate modules can be locked off in the event of decompression ?

One of the things that always tweaks my interest is the original plans for Space Station Freedom. IIRC, it would have had an internal hangar for building spacecraft in orbit. Wether it would have been fully pressurised or not I don't know.

BULLER

Have you heard of the Bigalow expandable modules? They triple in volume when they get into orbit and can be absolutely massive compared to standard ISS modules.
For example, the Saturn V super heavy lift would have been able to put this bad boy up to leo. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/05/Bigelow_BA-2100_expandable_space_module.jpg

AugustusMinimus

BULLER wrote: »

Have you heard of the Bigalow expandable modules? They triple in volume when they get into orbit and can be absolutely massive compared to standard ISS modules.
For example, the Saturn V super heavy lift would have been able to put this bad boy up to leo. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/05/Bigelow_BA-2100_expandable_space_module.jpg

Those modules are certainly a big advance. The cylindrical diameter isn't as limited by the maximum shroud diameter anymore. There are of course limits though.

I was thinking even bigger than that though and without the modular approach. Instead, pieces would be assembled in orbit to create a large spaceship which wouldn't be exactly modular. I would imagine that at current space ship sizes, it just wouldn't be needed and with our current technology feasible.

Interestingly, this is NASA idea for a deep space spacecraft with multiple bigelow modules bolted onto the side.

clln

These threads have some posts that add somewhat to this one!

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056243778

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056230476