SPACE STATIONS

The following letter  appeared in the July13 issue of Space news under the title: REPLACE ISS WITH SPECIALIZED STATIONS

To the Editor:

       Though well reasoned, Hugh Cook's op-ed: "Humanity's Outpost on the Edge" appears to recommend that America average about one astronaut in space for years into the future, as we have for the past fifty years.That's no way to capitalize on space.
      It's why I have been in favor of, and promoting a  practical phase-out of the ISS and replacing it with numerous, Skylab sized, turnkey stations that may be specialized in configuration (i.e. research, manufacturing, tourist destination).
      Progress will come with  a larger population occupied in space. Stations can be leased to nations with little space access.
     Development of cheap transportation will be stimulated.  Incidentally, it  would also be a steady use for the Space Transportation System.


Sincerely,


Edward Hujsak