In article ,
Bob Noel wrote:

In article ,
Ron Garret wrote:

There are a few other uses for a space station, not just a launch point
(I assume you mean space stations in general, not just the ISS).
For example, continued medical research into the effects of space
travel and/or low-g exposure. Materials research (nothing like exposing
materials to the space environment to study how they handle/react to
space. If one expands their view beyond earth and very near-earth space,
a station at L-5 (is that the right name?) could be a good research
platform.
And how about the possible medical benefits of low-g environments?

All these things could be done for a lot less money without the/a space
station.

how?

The materials and imaging work could all be done with unmanned
spacecraft.

The value of additional physiological work is questionable. We pretty
much know the effects of zero G on the human body, and it's not pretty.
We were designed for one G. Even if turned out that there were medical
conditions that were treatable by low-G environments the benefit to
society is far from clear given how expensive it currently is to send
humans into space. But even if one grants that this work has value, it
could be done with a much less expensive station provisioned by unmanned
vehicles.

rg