[amsat-bb] Re: ISS future?

[Jeff Davis]

On Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 4:22 PM, Trevor .<m5aka at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> Ultimately it's all down to politics in Washington DC.
> Personally I think ISS will still be there in 2025 and even then they'll be looking to extend its mission.

Lost in this conversation is the fact that very soon we (US) will no
longer have a way to get to the ISS -- with the retirement of the
shuttle fleet... I have no hard data on the structural integrity of a
thin steel body that alternates between extreme heat and cold
multiples times each day for decades, but it seems highly improbable
that the ISS would remain on orbit for so many years and remain a safe
place for humans to hang out.

Don't forget that on orbit construction began in 1998 -- meaning the
primary structure is older than my car and I drive a seriously tired
old clunker! :-)

73 de Jeff, KE9V