5 ms·
Anything where you need to manipulate the crystal structure or homogeneity of a mix, or cases where gravity will cause structural issues. It's possible to grow
by GravitasFailure 3y ago
Anything where you need to manipulate the crystal structure or homogeneity of a mix, or cases where gravity will cause structural issues.
It's possible to grow extremely high quality crystals in microgravity, so there's your semiconductor and optics industries.
Bulk metallic glasses are easier to make in space for the same reason: crystals grow more slowly, and are easier to prevent.
High quality vacuum on a scale never seen before for experiments and industrial processes.
Imagine building the James Webb Space Telescope without needing to harden it against launch forces.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- le-mark 3y agoI think bottom line is that resource utilization from space on earth makes zero sense. Space resources utilized in space makes perfect sense but there’s the chicken and egg problem. Bezos focus on space colonies fits this agenda. Musk mars colonization focus does as well due to mars low gravity.
- GravitasFailure 3y agoFor the most part I believe you're correct, but certain goods do have a sufficiently high value density that space manufacturing might make sense, especially in cases (like I highlighted above) that benefit specifically from microgravity. What will probably make more sense is taking advantage of microgravity for research, then adapting what we learn to manufacturing planetside.
- LargoLasskhyfv 3y agoImagine a really large lifting body, made of interlocked containers, building a honeycomb-like superstructure. Put some ablation layers around it. Maybe some small remote controlled rockets for steering. Let it glide down into the ocean near the coasts. Pull it into the the harbour via tug-boat. Remove remaining ablation layers. Disassemble honeycombed superstructure. Open containers. Get packets out. Melt containers into something else, or put them back up via space elevator, or whatever.