ever since the first successful powered
flight men has been fascinated with the
possibility of expanding his horizons to
the frontiers of space
unfortunately technology would take a
while to catch up to men's imaginations
but not for long
manned spaceflight has become a reality
which has surpassed even man's
expectations now it's time for the next
step Man's first permanent habitat in
space sometime in the early 1990s NASA
plans to assemble and begin operation of
its first permanently manned space
station here at Marshall Space Flight
Center scientists and technicians are
working to develop the modules which
will be used as living laboratories for
this long-term space exploration effort
three two one
the space shuttle will be used to ferry
the various space station components
into a low-earth orbit where they are to
be assembled as they circle the earth
over 17,000 miles per hour a variety of
new construction methods are being
developed as well while based on those
used on earth they must be adapted to
the peculiarities of outer space at the
center of the space station are the
pressurized modules where crews will
work and live every attempt is being
made to make their environment as
comfortable as possible the habitation
module will be used for eating sleeping
personal hygiene waste management and
recreation the modules will accommodate
up to eight crew members the health
maintenance facility is designed so the
astronauts can monitor their own
physical condition by checking their
vital signs and using x-rays and blood
samples there will also be exercise
equipment for daily physical
conditioning the u.s. laboratory module
will provide a shirtsleeve work
environment for performing many
different experiments including
materials processing life sciences
research and solar system exploration
many of the experiments require the
unique environment of weightless space
and offer incredible potential for
solving a variety of medical and
scientific problems here on earth
the logistics module will consist of an
interchangeable pressurized carrier
which will provide expendable items such
as food to be used by the space station
crew on a continuing basis the space
station will also enable in orbit
assembly and check out of large space
structures such as antennas astronomical
telescopes and satellites prior to their
deployment in their own or also the
space station will provide an assembly
area for construction of permanent man
bases on the moon and beyond
Space Station the link to America's
future
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