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rocketsocks t1_jc7pahe wrote

I really hope we don't half-ass a transition from the ISS to the next generation of space stations. One of the best things about the ISS currently is that every crew has a roughly 3 month overlap with the previous crew, which allows a tremendous amount of transfer of knowledge. That's continued for about two decades, it'd be a shame to let that operational expertise die.

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SFLADC2 t1_jc858ll wrote

Isn't the next one going to be a moon orbiting station or something?

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rocketsocks t1_jc8df1a wrote

The Lunar Gateway isn't a replacement for the ISS, for one it won't be continuously inhabited.

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bookers555 t1_jc8jz04 wrote

Nah, thats just going to be used in conjuction with Lunar missions.

Besides, it would be a huge waste of money to put our "main" space station orbiting the Moon since the requirements to get people there would go from a medium sized rocket like the Falcon 9 to a super heavy lift one like the SLS.

Each crew transfer would cost 2-3 billion dollars, which is absurd.

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