a space hotel concept

ISS Alpha is now 150 tons (c.f.,
http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/space/10/29/space.station.birthday/index.html).
So that would have taken at least two Energia launches. And Energia
has not flown since the late '80s --- and then only once or twice --- so
I'm not so confident of the $120 million/launch number.

Ron
*****

Ian Woollard
11/15/01 04:59 PM
Please respond to spacesettlers

To: spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com
cc:
Subject: Re: [spacesettlers] a space hotel concept

rmenich@... wrote:

> I'm sorry, but I have no personal ties. I've just seen many articles
> such as "Russia Hopes China Will Seek Help in Building Its Own Space
> Station" (c.f., http://www.spacedaily.com/news/china-00o.html) that
> indicate to me that there is opportunity for groups or countries outside

> Russia to leverage Russian space assets.

Probably they are hoping that the Chinese will ask if Russia would
sell them a ride on Energia. I was reading today that the Energia
has a capacity of 88 tonnes, for $120 million.

That works out at a cost of ~$1300/kg- the lowest cost I have found
anywhere.

Incidentally, Russia are only too keen to sell launches and space
station systems; they really need the cash. And the costs are
massively below anyone else. In fact, its probably only American
pride and pork barrel politics that made the ISS costs overrun- the
Russians could have put the whole ISS on one Energia.

> Good luck.
>
> Ron
> ******
>
> "anilir"
> 11/14/01 07:53 PM
> Please respond to spacesettlers
>
> To:
> cc:
> Subject: RE: [spacesettlers] a space hotel concept
>
> I don't know the capabilities of either Kajima Corporation or Shimuzu
> Corporation as regards space activities. But the natural thing for me
to
> ask is, "Have you thought about teaming with some group in Russia?".
> Clearly, the Russians have a lot of experience with launchers and with
> construction in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), and they are eager for new
business
>
> opportunities in the wake of significant reductions in their former
> budgets.
>
> I wished such a co-operiation would be possible, but as Japan and Russia

> still have problems because of a former Japanese North island (currently

> russian), they are not positive in teaming with Russian's. If you say
> Russia, I remember an architect named Bratislova, whom I visited last
> year. She designed all the interior of Soyuz spacecraft in her ealry
ages
> (perhaps the first realized interior design) do you have any coneections

> from Russia which could be helpfull?
>
> anilir
>
--
- Ian Woollard (ian.woollard@...)

"Is a planetary surface the right place for an expanding
technological civilization?"
- Gerard O'Neill