A concept for a relatively low-cost space station which
goes far beyond the current space station's purposes.
Would consist of a pair of prefab toroids in LEO,
one a zero-g facility and module platform, and the other
toroid spinning for artificial gravity inside, as a
co-ed crew living quarters and biospheric r&D facility.
The toroid's are built of segments, which are first prefab
for wet launch, assembled and tested on the ground, then
moc duls es are separated and sequentially wet-launched by a
reuseable
winged engine control module of space shuttle technology.
Keywords: spacestation, centristation,toroid,settlement,biosphere
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       CENTRISTATION IV: ECONOMICAL MULTI-GOAL SPACE STATION
                             By J. E. D. Cline
 
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE CONCEPT:

Centristation IV consists of a pair of adjacent toroids in low earth
orbit, one is a relatively earth-normal living quarters & biosphere,
and the other a zero-g facility. The toroids are built of prefab
segments, which are built and tested on the ground first, then
dissassembled and sequentially wet-launched into LEO by a reuseable
winged engine/control module.

The living quarters is a small spinning hard-shell toroidal space
station/colony, with 1-gee internal for earth-normal living inside.
The zero-g basic facility is a similar, but non-spinning toroidal
shell structure, with internal sealed areas as well as being a rigid
platform for mounting of external modules.

The prefab construction, "wet" launch, and minimum modular assembly in
free fall is are unique parts of the concept. The segments of the
toroids are prefabricated, tested in use on the ground. Then
sequentially each toroidal segment dual compartments (appropriately
designed and constructed for wet launch) are filled with fuel &
oxidizer for use as the fuel tanks for its own launch into orbit, and
lifted into LEO by an unmanned winged engine/control module. After
orbital insertion and positioning of each segment, the winged
engine/control module is returned back to the earthsurface launch site
to lift the next toroidal segment/fuel tank.

VALUE:
Minimum launch costs, minimum orbital assembly, artificial gravity for
manned portions of living and working quarters, and small-scale
testing of toroidal space habitat concepts.

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS:
All components are either part of the spacestation toroid or are
re-used in subsequent launches. Provides hard-shell 1-gee living space
for co-ed crew and life supporting agriculture. Pre-assembled on the
ground, in adjusted gravity orientation, for extensive testing as a
multiperson co-ed living habitat. After insertion into LEO, the
segments are robotically moved together to form the toroid, linked
securely together, pressurized and spun up for 1-gee inside, all
before occupancy by the crew. Access to free-fall equipment is gained
through moving through spokes to the toroid's hub.

ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES:
Requires the design, engineering, and construction of a new launch
system mostly using proven technologies. Space shuttle type reuseable
liquid fueled engines, winged tiled reusable airframe. Skylab
technologies including pre-outfitting fuel tanks for use as orbiting
living quarters and workspace; fly-by-wire control systems, re-useable
strap-on booster engines; automatic or remotely guided free-fall
docking; biosphere artificial ecological system studies; harmonious
group studies.

RELATION TO MAJOR SPACE PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:
Provides a rigid basic structure for external material processing
modules; economical, high-quality living space for workers in LEO;
testing of key concepts essential to artificial gravity space
agricultural systems, and later is adaptable for lunar orbit, transit
to Mars, and placement in permanent Mars orbit.This has suggested an
alternative to the current FREEDOM type of space
station, which has been rejected due to excessive costs. This
alternative features low cost, much less environmental pollution
during launches, and in addition to providing zero-g basic materials
platformi, is a major step toward the real goal of space colonization
& space resource utilization.

The LOW COST derives from the use of prefab components, requiring very
little manned construction in free-fall, and the launch technology
being extremely efficient. All components except the launch fuel are
either re-used or are part of the space station.

The ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION IS MINIMIZED by relatively few launches
being required for its component placement into LEO orbit.

It IS A MAJOR STEP ON THE WAY TO SPACE COLONIZATION because it
provides living quarters which test concepts of centrifugal artificial
gravity in one of the toroids. This project may be able to remind
humanity of the purpose of the space program, that of freeing mankind
from the ecological limitations of a closed earth surface system, and
removing much of the burdon mankind has been placing on Mother Earth.

It PROVIDES ZERO-G FACILITIES because a second, adjacent torioid is
not spinning and thus provides the stiff shell structure for
attachment of various experiment modules that FREEDOM space station
would have provided.

REFERENCES:
GEnie Spaceport Library files # 1071, 1537, & 1718, by J.E.D.CLINE1.