this post was submitted on 11 Oct 2023
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Astronomy

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[–] kalkulat@lemmy.world 11 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Many hundreds of billions of dollars were paid to haul all of that mass up the gravity well into orbit. And guess who spent all of that money? And guess who'd like to make a LOT MORE money?

Apart from the spent rockets (now sitting at the bottom of Point Nemo) and fuel, most of ISS was clearly expensive and versatile and well-designed. And VERY likely to be worth recycling.

Instead, send a rocket up there to LIFT ISS into a stable parking orbit that won't decay in thousands of years. By then somebody will have found a use for most of it. If 'space-faring' is really the goal, and not just a gimmick to put money into private pockets.

Using it to make a spectacular fireworks show is an ENORMOUS waste. The Egyptians didn't dynamite the pyramids ... a lucrative decision.

[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 6 points 2 years ago

The Egyptians didn't dynamite the pyramids ... a lucrative decision.

They (or someone anyway) did take the gold off 'em, tho.

[–] ChaoticNeutralCzech@feddit.de 7 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Hmmm... private operators’ space stations in low earth orbit. What could go wrong?

[–] Maeve@kbin.social 6 points 2 years ago

I wanted to vomit when I read that.