Commercial ISS Modules?

Have the administrators of the ISS (NASA? ESA?) considered commercial
modules? If the ISS is just a series of interconnected modules, why not
allow commercial agencies to build modules and add on? Seems like it could
raise some serious cash for the project and stimulate marketing and
interest.

--
BenignVanilla
Pond Site: www.darofamily.com/jeff/links/mypond
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"BenignVanilla" m writes:

Have the administrators of the ISS (NASA? ESA?) considered commercial
modules? If the ISS is just a series of interconnected modules, why not
allow commercial agencies to build modules and add on? Seems like it could
raise some serious cash for the project and stimulate marketing and
interest.

The Russians have. Search the web for for "ISS Enterprise module" and
you'll likely find some info. All the Russians lack is the commercial
backing to build and fly such a module. They'll do just about
anything for the right amount of money.

NASA doesn't have much to say about opening up space for commercial
research.

Jeff
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Remove "no" and "spam" from email address to reply.
If it says "This is not spam!", it's surely a lie.

On Thu, 10 Jul 2003 11:58:56 -0400, "BenignVanilla"
m wrote:

Have the administrators of the ISS (NASA? ESA?) considered commercial
modules? If the ISS is just a series of interconnected modules, why not
allow commercial agencies to build modules and add on? Seems like it could
raise some serious cash for the project and stimulate marketing and
interest.

On February 1, Columbia was lost while carrying a commercial module.
This wasn't a commercial ISS module, but the same company, Spacehab,
has been pursuing a commercial module for the ISS. It is called
"Enterprise".

Brian

BenignVanilla wrote:

Have the administrators of the ISS (NASA? ESA?) considered commercial
modules? If the ISS is just a series of interconnected modules, why not
allow commercial agencies to build modules and add on? Seems like it could
raise some serious cash for the project and stimulate marketing and
interest.

--
BenignVanilla
Pond Site: www.darofamily.com/jeff/links/mypond
Remove MYFRONTALLOBE to email me.

I always tell my friends that the sign space has been conquered is when they
plug the mickey D's or Starbucks module into ISS. That is when I will know
that flying to station is no more impressive than flying to old europe and
is just another stop.

Of course I also add I would love to figure out how to do a burger and fries
in microgravity. The only way I can figure is a centerfuge....

In article ,
says...
BenignVanilla wrote:

Have the administrators of the ISS (NASA? ESA?) considered commercial
modules? If the ISS is just a series of interconnected modules, why not
allow commercial agencies to build modules and add on? Seems like it could
raise some serious cash for the project and stimulate marketing and
interest.

I always tell my friends that the sign space has been conquered is when they
plug the mickey D's or Starbucks module into ISS. That is when I will know
that flying to station is no more impressive than flying to old europe and
is just another stop.

Of course I also add I would love to figure out how to do a burger and fries
in microgravity. The only way I can figure is a centerfuge....

Ummm... they already sell microwave burgers and microwave fries -- pre-
cooked items that are designed to be heated in a microwave. While it's
not exactly the same thing as fresh-cooked, it would be an easy way to do
it in microgravity, I would think.

--

It's not the pace of life I mind; | Doug Van Dorn
it's the sudden stop at the end... |

spicier or at least
have a stronger flavor. This may be due to more fluid being present in the
head (and specifically the nasal passages) while in orbit than while on the
ground.

Is loss of the sense of smell a well-documented occurrence in orbit?

While y'all are on the topic of food, BTW, anyone know what happened to the
free-fall soda cans that were being tested some years ago?

In article ,
says...
spicier or at least
have a stronger flavor. This may be due to more fluid being present in the
head (and specifically the nasal passages) while in orbit than while on the
ground.

Is loss of the sense of smell a well-documented occurrence in orbit?

It's not a *total* loss of smell -- people in microgravity have reported
smelling a lot of things. It's more a deadening of smell to a somewhat
lower level. Since smell is a big factor in how we taste food, it's not
surprising that a lot of space travelers, be they astronauts or
cosmonauts, have reported that their food tastes more bland in space than
it does on Earth. So they bring additional seasonings to make the food
tastier. (It was apparently a bitch to figure out how to add things like
salt and pepper to food in microgravity -- you basically have to put them
into a liquid "base" or else they can't be easily applied to the food.)

And yes, almost everyone who has flown in space has reported this
lessening of smell and change in food taste. While it seems to have been
attributed to greater fluid retention in the head and sinuses, I've never
seen any studies that have proved that theory one way or another.

--

It's not the pace of life I mind; | Doug Van Dorn
it's the sudden stop at the end... |

Kegwasher wrote:

BenignVanilla wrote:

Have the administrators of the ISS (NASA? ESA?) considered commercial
modules? If the ISS is just a series of interconnected modules, why not
allow commercial agencies to build modules and add on? Seems like it
could raise some serious cash for the project and stimulate marketing and
interest.

--
BenignVanilla
Pond Site: www.darofamily.com/jeff/links/mypond
Remove MYFRONTALLOBE to email me.

I always tell my friends that the sign space has been conquered is when
they
plug the mickey D's or Starbucks module into ISS. That is when I will
know that flying to station is no more impressive than flying to old
europe and is just another stop.

Of course I also add I would love to figure out how to do a burger and
fries
in microgravity. The only way I can figure is a centerfuge....

I need to add that the presence of such a retail outlet would also indicate
a large enough permenant population and the existence of currency in
circulation (the Astro perhaps?).

To me it is the '49er syndrome. Either there needs to be something unique
about the location or there needs to be large enough population for it to
be a market itself. Until now we have had a few prospectors and government
reps out surveying the territory. That makes it more of an outpost. When
I read that Intel, AMD, Bayer or Glaxo is putting out a RFP for lab and/or
production modules then I will think we starting to use space, not just
visit.

Who knows, heard Branson is looking to waste money on Concorde. Maybe he
will be the first to offer flights to orbit as part of normal business some
day.