On Sun, 06 Jul 2003 05:38:18 GMT, "TangoMan"
<tango_nospam_dancer@hotmail.com> wrote:

>I've seen reports that the cost of ISS has appraoched
>$90 Billion. I've seen cost estimates all over the map
>for ISS. Does anyone have a definititive number amd a source
>they can point me to.
>
>If the ISS did indeed cost $90 billion, then a rethink for
>even a Stanford Torus is in order.

The primary differences here are the methods of construction and
launch technologies. ISS did not truely try to optimize either.
It is hard for me to find any validation in O'neill's original
proposals, but, I'm relatively satisfied that with the proper
approach, a 10K pop orbital colony could be built for a few hundred
billion dollars and about a decade and a half of time. BDBs and mass
launch systems can make a dramatic difference, and a project like this
can more than absorb the costs of developing and implementing both
these and personnel transports within it's budget (infact they are
requisite to meeting the budgetary restrictions). Even using some
cargo varient of the shuttle and once a week launches you'd go way
over budget of money and time without getting anywhere close to
completing a colony.