Jeff Findley wrote:

It's far easier to launch modules fully outfitted than do the outfitting in
LEO. Look at the history of Skylab, and even ISS, and this becomes
abundantly clear.


While we may not be ready for this yet, isn't it conceivable that in the
future, we will be called upon to do more than just connecting cables
and not losing the screwdrivers when tightening a few bolts ?

Say they were to bring the ET to the station and berth it to nadir node1
or node2 (parralel to truss to give clearance for soyuz to dock).

Could they not then progressively wrap it in proper insulation (leave
foam there, but covered with micrometeorid insulation) ?

Outfitting the interior would be a challenge and keep people busy for a
few years. But the H2 lank woul provide for a nice gymnasium where they
could play 0g basketball for instance. They'd just have to ship the wood
slats for the flooring all round the station and place hoops at both
ends :-)

But I realise that outfitting the inside of an ET with racks, wiring etc
would be quite a bit of work.

BTW, what PSI ratings are those tanks ? Is 14.5 psi something that is
well within the capabilities of the tank ?