[OnyxCougar]

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The ISS is NOT a useless bit of money gobbling metal in orbit.

Yes, it's overpriced.

Yes, it's expensive to maintain.

Yes, a superconductor is essential to quantum physics. But quantum physics is NOT the be-all, end-all of science.

Some things the ISS is helpful for (emphasis mine):

Cells associate in complex, three-dimensional groupings—called lines—to form living tissue. When researchers try to replicate this natural growth in ground-based laboratories, they find that the cultivated cells form flat, thin specimens. Since these specimens do not accurately represent cell behavior, they are of limited use to researchers. On the other hand, cells grown in the microgravity of low Earth orbit grow three-dimensionally, more closely resembling cells found in living bodies. CBOSS provides the first on-Station hardware dedicated to cultivating cells: a Biotechnology Specimen Temperature Controller (BSTC), a Biotechnology Refrigerator (BTR), a Gas Supply Module (GSM), and two Biotechnology Cell Science Stowage (BCSS). BSTC's chamber will act as a non-rotating bioreactor, where the cells will be cultivated. The experiments grown during this mission will be used for the study of human diseases, such as cancer.

In dilute magnetorheological (MR) suspensions the dipolar particles aggregate to form long chains. More concentrated systems exhibit a rapid liquid to solid transition as chains cross-link, and are capable of supporting stresses perpendicular to the applied field. These unique properties have many possible technological applications, especially for actuator-type devices. While several studies have aimed to describe the rheological properties of MR fluids on a microstructural basis, we seek to investigate the fundamental particle motions of such systems in an effort to relate dynamics to changes in structure and interactions. Additionally, the ability to experimentally probe colloidal suspensions interacting through tunable anisotropic potentials is of fundamental interest.

Space is a punishing environment. Extreme temperatures, radiation, vacuum, and orbiting debris can damage and destroy building materials and hardware. MISSE will test the durability of hundreds of samples—ranging from lubricants and paints to solar cell technologies—by exposing them to the potential hazards of space. By flying these samples in one of nature's harshest environments, researchers will not only discover the strength and durability of the samples, but will also gain insight that will help them design and manufacture new materials that will last longer on Earth, in space, and on other planets.

Your posts, while mostly logical, are written with tunnel vision. To YOU, the superconductor was the better choice.

Personally, if it came down to a superconductor that already exists (or is already being built in Europe) or creating a living environment in space... I'll pick the space station. It can help us learn how to live long term in that environment, so that one day we can build spaceships at the ISS, opening a whole new realm of possibility of space travel.

There were already SC's underway, why recreate the wheel? So the US can say nyah nyah, we have our own? Let the scientists go to CERN. They'll still report the science.

The Reasearch Triangle, in Raleigh/Durham, NC has over 13% of the Top Scientists in the United States, and has a population with doctoral degrees of over 35%.

I don't think all of them are running off to CERN.

I'd rather cure cancer.