Headlining September 28's article on SpaceX attempt at getting Starship into orbit (successful) I called the rocket ridiculously huge. That really doesn't do justice to just how big the thing is.
Even the numbers, 124 meters/407 feet tall, diameter: 9 meters (29.5 feet) are difficult to comprehend.*
From Space Science's Facebook page, September 25:
SpaceX plans to convert a Starship upper stage into a permanent, standalone orbital space station. New NASA documentation reveals that the company proposes using the massive interior volume of its stainless steel spacecraft to create a long-term habitat in low Earth orbit.
Rather than returning the vehicle to Earth for reuse, this specialized station concept would remain permanently in space after launch. The sheer size of Starship gives it over six hundred cubic meters of internal space, which offers a living and working volume comparable to a major portion of the International Space Station inside a single rocket hull.
This proposal fits into NASA's broader strategy as the agency prepares for the eventual retirement of the International Space Station. By supporting commercial station concepts, NASA aims to transition its research activities to privately operated platforms while cutting the high operational costs of maintaining aging orbital infrastructure.
The primary technical hurdle for turning a Starship into an orbital outpost involves repurposing its massive propellant tanks once they are emptied in orbit. Engineers would need to safely vent residual liquid methane and liquid oxygen before converting those empty volumes into pressurized, human-rated living areas and scientific research laboratories.
Converting a single rocket hull directly into a fully functioning space station could significantly lower the cost of building large structures in orbit. Do you think converting spent rocket stages into permanent space stations is a practical path forward for orbital habitats?
*Here's one of the pictures they use at Wikipedia:
