pressurized work volume is desired, the tank can fill this need also by the addition of a hinge and a pressure seal. Entry diameter can be made anywhere from 3 feet to the 27.5 feet diameter of the tank itself. This will allow the servicing, testing, and construction of large space systems. The SOC studies of the late 1970s suggested on-orbit construction of a hangar facility based on the size and support structure for payloads in the orbiter payload bay. The hydrogen tank interior can be easily adapted to this role for a faw lower cost than what was envisioned by the SOC studies (25). Once again, the program savings are primarily launch costs. Additional savings are realized by on-orbit modification of an existing structure rather than developing, purchasing, and launching a new module for the same purpose. C. Corporate space stations or platforms As the United States works toward a continuous manned presence in space, interest in a similar presence by industry becomes stronger. Using the ET or the ET/ACC combination as Corporate Space Station will provide a way for various companies to make this happen. As mentioned in the manned ACC section, the launch of fully functional manned space station in a single shuttle flight for a total cost of two to three generic communications satellites - $200 - 300 million - is something far more attractive to corporations than the $8 billion planned cost of the Space Station. The scenario including a corporate space station would do several things: 1. Promote industrial interest and investment in space by keeping costs down. This would enhance the current space station by keeping the industrial activities separate from the scientific and research activities aboard the space station. 2. Allow industrial users to keep their own on-orbit work a corporate secret. There is better security in the use of separate facilities in space. 3. Allows DOD or DOE to conduct tests, experimentation,and evaluation in orbit with sensitive systems that will not attract the attention that a secret shuttle launch from the Cape or Vandenberg will. As the SDI expands, the space-based requirements of currently proposed systems will require on-orbit testing. This will make an ET based station attractive to other governmental agencies. It also allows the space station to be a platform dedicated to civilian purposes in its entirety. This is an attractive political option.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTU5NjU0Mg==