Manned orbital facility

A description is presented of a manned orbital facility (MOF) that could serve individuals and organizations whose research and applications goals can best be furthered by utilization of the environment of space. The described baseline design for the MOF would initially provide living and working quarters for four people. The MOF configuration is made up of four basic units, including the subsystem module, the habitability module, the logistic module, and the payload module. The modular design makes an extension of the MOF at a later time convenient. The first four person MOF could probably be launched about 1985. MOF baseline study objectives considered are related to IR astronomy, UV astronomy, solar observations, space sciences, magnetospheric and plasma physics in space, space technology, cloud physics/technology, earth science, high energy astronomy and technology, life science/technology, cosmic rays, advanced technology, and space manufacturing.