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All the things worth doing in space turned out to be do-able without humans. Telescopes, radio relays, etc. The ISS doesn't really have much of a mission. Here'

All the things worth doing in space turned out to be do-able without humans. Telescopes, radio relays, etc. The ISS doesn't really have much of a mission. Here's the list of current ISS experiments.[1] Many are aimed at the problems of keeping humans alive long term without gravity. [1] https://www.nasa.gov/mission/station/research-explorer/search/?#q=&i=74 https://www.nasa.gov/mission/station/research-explorer/searc...

avmich 1y ago
The was a long discussion about benefits of human space exploration. A comparison was made between that and basic science: just like the basic science doesn't bring immediate benefits, so do humans in space. However over long periods of time both could prove to be worthwhile.
Galxeagle 1y ago
I like thinking about the ISS as primarily engineering (and operational) experiments rather than hard science. As a space platform, it's provided learning on how to contract private companies for space flights, and in turn, how they should operate, plan, etc. Or how to do internationally coordinated space operations. All of the work it takes to mature a new tech to a 7,8, or 9 on the NASA Technology Readiness Level[0] while Curiosity and Ingenuity and other long-distance (and JPL) missions focus on the hard science of 1's and 2's. That said, I too think the main value of ISS declined several years ago or more. Looking forward to the next generation, whatever it is [1] https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/somd/space-communications-navigation-program/technology-readiness-levels/ https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/somd/space-communications-...
- Animats 1y ago
  > Looking forward to the next generation, whatever it is Tiangong [1] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiangong_space_station https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiangong_space_station
- hx8 1y ago
  > As a space platform, it's provided learning on how to contract private companies for space flights, and in turn, how they should operate, plan, etc. This would be great if we knew where we are heading. Without a clear goal/destination the most likely outcome is we get board and lose the institutional knowledge we paid so much money to gain.

avmich 1y ago

The was a long discussion about benefits of human space exploration. A comparison was made between that and basic science: just like the basic science doesn't bring immediate benefits, so do humans in space. However over long periods of time both could prove to be worthwhile.

Galxeagle 1y ago

I like thinking about the ISS as primarily engineering (and operational) experiments rather than hard science. As a space platform, it's provided learning on how to contract private companies for space flights, and in turn, how they should operate, plan, etc. Or how to do internationally coordinated space operations. All of the work it takes to mature a new tech to a 7,8, or 9 on the NASA Technology Readiness Level[0] while Curiosity and Ingenuity and other long-distance (and JPL) missions focus on the hard science of 1's and 2's. That said, I too think the main value of ISS declined several years ago or more. Looking forward to the next generation, whatever it is [1] https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/somd/space-communications-navigation-program/technology-readiness-levels/ https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/somd/space-communications-...

Animats 1y ago
> Looking forward to the next generation, whatever it is Tiangong [1] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiangong_space_station https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiangong_space_station
hx8 1y ago
> As a space platform, it's provided learning on how to contract private companies for space flights, and in turn, how they should operate, plan, etc. This would be great if we knew where we are heading. Without a clear goal/destination the most likely outcome is we get board and lose the institutional knowledge we paid so much money to gain.