A bipartisan group of Senators wants to extend the space station to 2030

[smp]

From Ars Technica:

"A bipartisan quartet of United States senators has filed a new bill that sets out space policy for NASA over the coming decade. The new authorizing legislation is largely consistent with much of NASA's present activities, but it differs from White House policy in some key respects."

https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/11 ... n-to-2030/

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[UlteriorModem]

Surprised, there too busy with something else to do anything productive.

[Bigzmey]

Any particular reason not to keep it since it is already there?

[AntennaGuy]

Any particular reason not to keep it since it is already there?

Based on what little I know, I think we should at least keep it up there, and in generally working condition. After all, we sure spent a lot of money to put it there. OTOH, I am certainly open to arguments about how much money we should spend on doing anything else with it. I.e., should we enlarge it, have more missions to/from it, have less missions to/from it, etc.

[smp]

Any particular reason not to keep it since it is already there?

I'm thinking there must be the thought that The US could simply stop funding and participation, leaving future operation to the International partners.
I am definitely NOT saying this would be a good idea in my opinion, I'm only saying this could be a thought that some have.

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[notFritzArgelander]

If it isn't used it has to be disposed of. That's a problem....

https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/578543main_asa ... 101020.pdf

https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/ ... al-report/

[Marcelo F.]

If it isn't used it has to be disposed of. That's a problem....

https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/578543main_asa ... 101020.pdf

https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/ ... al-report/

Well, I still remember hearing stories as a child of people who found pieces of Skylab in their backyards.

[notFritzArgelander]

If it isn't used it has to be disposed of. That's a problem....

https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/578543main_asa ... 101020.pdf

https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/ ... al-report/

Well, I still remember hearing stories as a child of people who found pieces of Skylab in their backyards.

Folks who find bits of the ISS might be annoyed at the close call....

[AntennaGuy]

Per an option in one of the links supplied by NotFritz:
"...boost ISS to a higher altitude to provide time to address the issue." That sounds most prudent to me.

[Arctic]

Considering the extreme investment in establishing the ISS, it only makes sense to get as much use out of it as possible. I always felt that about the Hubble Space Telescope, as well.

[Ozypic]

Tow it to mars ?

[GCoyote]

It's future is probably just as dependent on the success of the rising space entrepreneurs in bringing down cost to orbit. While I have strong doubts about tourism as a viable long-term business, there are certainly a number of other ideas floating around in business and academia.

[pakarinen]

If the ISS can somehow generate profits, odds are somebody will jump on it.