4 ms·

You mean... agile?

avmich 7y ago
Sort of. Gateway looks like an example of how could we try to get to the Moon, but to do that not in a single Apollo-sized project, but splitting the task in easier chunks - and yes, incurring some overhead, but also opening up new opportunities. See, for Gateway we have much better TRL (technology readiness level) than for, say, short trips to the Moon surface, not to say about longer term Moon-surface activities like maintaining a base there. For Gateway we need technologies which are similar to ISS, with main changes being: 1) the modules need to be transported to Moon vicinity. That means that in practice, for example, each module needs to be pushed there - so the module should include its own booster (I think it's not very good, as that spent booster won't be used afterwards) or each module should be mated to a booster temporarily. Then modules should be assembled in Moon vicinity similarly to how they are assembled into ISS. 2) we have worse radioactive environment for Gateway than we have for ISS. That means all habitat modules have to additionally include means of protection - be that extra layer of passive material, or active external plasma generators which would reduce radiation by getting it through a weak layer of particles around the module, or something else. A new and a challenging problem, for sure, but with certain payouts in the future if we will ever want to venture from Earth. There are other differences, like navigation, space debris environment, communications, ways of getting there-and-back etc. but that all seem to be much more attainable than direct Moon missions. And after having Gateway in such a shape, subsequent Moon missions can obviously employ those existing capabilities - i.e. missions would start from Gateway, which is much closer to the Moon, not from Earth, as the path to Gateway would be already well developed. And we have better hopes of actually having that built before critical changes will happen - so we'll have taken at least some steps forward.
- corebit 7y ago
  I agree entirely!

You mean... agile?

Sort of. Gateway looks like an example of how could we try to get to the Moon, but to do that not in a single Apollo-sized project, but splitting the task in easier chunks - and yes, incurring some overhead, but also opening up new opportunities. See, for Gateway we have much better TRL (technology readiness level) than for, say, short trips to the Moon surface, not to say about longer term Moon-surface activities like maintaining a base there. For Gateway we need technologies which are similar to ISS, with main changes being: 1) the modules need to be transported to Moon vicinity. That means that in practice, for example, each module needs to be pushed there - so the module should include its own booster (I think it's not very good, as that spent booster won't be used afterwards) or each module should be mated to a booster temporarily. Then modules should be assembled in Moon vicinity similarly to how they are assembled into ISS. 2) we have worse radioactive environment for Gateway than we have for ISS. That means all habitat modules have to additionally include means of protection - be that extra layer of passive material, or active external plasma generators which would reduce radiation by getting it through a weak layer of particles around the module, or something else. A new and a challenging problem, for sure, but with certain payouts in the future if we will ever want to venture from Earth. There are other differences, like navigation, space debris environment, communications, ways of getting there-and-back etc. but that all seem to be much more attainable than direct Moon missions. And after having Gateway in such a shape, subsequent Moon missions can obviously employ those existing capabilities - i.e. missions would start from Gateway, which is much closer to the Moon, not from Earth, as the path to Gateway would be already well developed. And we have better hopes of actually having that built before critical changes will happen - so we'll have taken at least some steps forward.

corebit 7y ago
I agree entirely!