Help (engineering, general science, etc)!

The following is based on Eric Hunting's article in Distant Star
(which was based on a response to my barrier post in this group). All
credit should go to him, while I assume all responsibility for
misreading, misquoting or any other errors or omissions.

Eric's idea strikes me as one of the most practical, realistic plans
to come down the pike in some time. That usually means I have
overlooked something. I could use your help. What's wrong with this
plan:

MODULAR UNMANNED ORBITAL LABORATORY

1. Serves as a telecommunications satellite to offset initial
deployment costs.

2. Based on a space-frame structure supporting a large photovoltaic
(PV) and radiator array.

3. A serviceable, telecommunications satellite and backplane with
plug-in power/communications/thermal exchange capabilities that allow
additional modules:

a. Service Module(s) - Used to repair/upgrade MUOL and modules.
b. Lab Modules - Used to perform research.
c. Industry Modules - Used to manufacture products.
d. Backplane Modules - Used for expansion and upgrades.

The best use of this MUOL would be as a parking lot: lease out space
on the backplane to companies interested in doing research in the
unique, micro-g environment. They furnish the module; we furnish
power, serviceability, and remote communications to the module.

This plan has several key advantages:

1) It can utilize existing launch systems and requires no other
additional advances in science or engineering.

2) It uses automation and/or telerobotics to accomplish mission
objectives, eliminating the need for expensive life-support and other
systems.

3) It distributes the overall cost of the MUOL (Backplane(s) +
Modules = MUOL) over more than one company.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

1. Insurance/Liability (MUOL, modules, companies) - The involvement
of several companies (most of whom are unrelated outside of the MUOL)
may include an unacceptable level of risk; i. e., installing another
module, servicing an existing module, or any of a myriad of tasks
that may take place at the MUOL could potentially disrupt, damage, or
destroy research, modules, part or all of the MUOL, etc. Will
companies be willing to invest millions of dollars to plug their
module into "my" backplane if some Joe Blow from Aerospace, Inc. can
accidentally ruin the experiments being conducted or damage their
modules?

2. Cost - Is there a significant cost advantage to having to just
pay the cost of developing and orbiting the backplane (with requisite
telecommunications h/w)? Do the companies building the modules get a
significant savings by not having to include power and telcom systems
in their modules?

3. ROI --> ??Bootstrap?? - Can "we" make enough money from leasing
space on the backplane and offering telecomm services to finance
future operations?

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:

1. MUOL orbit - What's the best orbit for the MUOL, considering the
importance of lag time in teleoperation and eliminating the expense
of equipping the MUOL with orbital maintenance capabilities.

2. Space hazards (solar, debris, etc.) - Anything significant here?

3. Earth-return transport requirements - Some experiments and most
products will ultimately have to be returned to Earth. What's the
most cost-effective way to do this while minimizing the
mission/research design constraints of the MUOL and its modules?

4. Legal/Policy - I am not sure if this is really a legitimate
concern or not. Satellites are launched routinely these days, and the
MUOL wouldn't be all that different.

5. MUOL design requirements/constraints - This consideration
requires someone much smarter than I.

6. Individual Module design requirements/constraints - Ditto.

7. State of telerobotics and automation - I did some research and I
am relatively confident that this will not need to be a "limiting" or
prohibitive consideration. The technology to enable automated
research and manufacturing appears relatively well established, but I
need to do more research. I don't believe there would be much need
for teleoperation of the modules once docked with the backplane
(except for servicing/upgrading, but this would most likely involve a
separate, teleoperated craft - perhaps an arm or something).

Please feel free to offer any suggestions, criticisms, etc. I could
use the input.

Jack