National Multipurpose Space Station

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.