A space station (or orbital station) is a spacecraft capable of supporting a crew, which is designed to remain in space (most commonly in low Earth orbit) for an extended period of time. For questions about specific space stations (e.g. the ISS, MIR, Salyut 1-7, Tiangong or Skylab), please use corresponding tags.
Questions tagged [space-station]
188 questions
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Why would we ever build a base on the surface of a planet?
With how much delta-v it costs to reenter space from the surface of a planet or moon, why would anyone ever build a base/station on the surface, rather than in orbit?
Is there some reason assembly would be easier on the ground, rather than in space?
Joe
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Unexpectably bright Tiangong-1?
Last night, at 22:51 EDT, I went outside to observe a Tiangong-1 pass (the first Chinese space station). It was expected to peak at a magnitude of 1.5, which is moderately bright. However, I had a big surprise because it actually became very, very…
Archa
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What is the practical limit on the space station dimensions given current technology?
What is the practical limit on the dimensions of a space station built following modern technology?
What about various mechnical stresses, tensions, torsions, atmosphere drift, tide forces etc that would disintergrate the construction given currect…
Anixx
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Reuse of fuel tanks as habitats?
So, we've got this huge, hermetically sealed tube of metal nearly to orbit, just to push another huge hermetically sealed tube into orbit, and then we let the first tube fall and burn in the atmosphere... seems like a big waste to me.
Of course all…
SF.
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My height is 5 feet and weight is 55 kg. Can I be a NASA astronaut?
My dream is to be a NASA astronaut. I am a 16 year old girl from India, my height is currently 5 feet, and my weight is 55kg. Can my height and weight create problems in fulfilling my dream?
user20863
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Orbital Strap-on Boosters?
Have there been any proposals to launch a "space station" type of assembly into LEO, then send up some engines to get it to be able to move again? Take for instance something akin to the ISS, but much simpler with less modules, points of failure,…
Magic Octopus Urn
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Can fractional distillation of pure air take place in a space settlement?
Is it a feasible method of obtaining different gases - such as nitrogen and argon - in space to form the composition of a normal atmosphere in the space settlement?
Fizza Syed
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Water Compressed on Space Station
I have heard rumors that they use compressed water to save space on transportation to the space station.
Is there any possibility of this occurring at any point in space travel history?
William
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