Re: Ground-Based Fighters (longish)

In a message dated 7/16/99 8:37:12 AM EST, books@mail.state.fl.us
writes:

<< 
 Why?  Nothing to oxidize them, no plants to tear at them.  Just a
 micro-meteorite every 20 or 30 years and a bit of radiation.	I 
 guess maybe temperature changes if it is on orbit, but otherwise space
 is about the most stable environment around.
  >>

Every air lock seal in the facility is going toharden, crystallize and
become 
non-functional, Col and heat extremes inside the facility as it
stretches and 
contracts metallic and non-metallic surfaces. Sky Lab was unuseable a
long 
time before it "bombed" Australia. A facility in use is constantly being

maintained, no one there means no routine maintenance and nothing works 
without maintenance in a hostile environment.