Aug 282011
 

The future of space stations was going to be *awesome.* In 1964.

Note that, like the ISS, the NMSS would use a segmented, modular approach. Note that *unlike* the ISS, the intent was to use the modules separately for other, smaller space platforms. And also note that the eventual goal was a large *rotating* space station generating artificial gravity. This would have proven to be of far greater value than the actual ISS.

Many people think it’s vitally important to study the long-term effects of microgravity on the human body. But this seems to me to be a flawed assumption. Try to imagine what a full-fledged space-based society would entail: colonies on other moons and planets, bases on asteroids, space stations, spacecraft zipping hither and yon. Which of these would actually be zero-gravity? Certainly not the moon/planet bases. The asteroid bases would have very minimal gravity… unless the bases spun to generate *more* gravity. Space stations would be *insane* to be zero-gravity… long term residents would be effectively barred from ever stepping foot on a world and many other space stations. Depending on propulsion technologies, ships might be under constant acceleration; it not they might tumble or spin to generate artificial gravity.

By the 1980’s, we were well aware of the fact that long-term microgravity has negative effects on the human body. What were were not aware of  – and remain woefully unaware of – is what effect *reduced* gravity has. What does a year on Mars do to your bones? The moon? Vesta?? These questions could be answered with a rotating space station, while still providing access to microgravity and vacuum for other areas of scientific research.

 Posted by at 10:16 am

  2 Responses to “National Multipurpose Space Station”

  1. I’ve see a painting of that thing somewhere.
    Given that the modules look about Skylab sized from the Apollos docked to them, you wouldn’t be able to spin the three module one very fast, or the crew would get sick from the differnce in rotational momentum between their heads and feet.
    NASA research showed that to prevent that in a 1g station, it had to be around 400 feet in diameter.

  2. It’s been a long time since I saw the painting, but doesn’t the central core project quite a way up above the three attached modules, IIRC?

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