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Space robotics, trying to build the Caterpillar of construction and maintenance on orbit. Not a lot to show yet but that’s unsurprising because it takes quite a

Space robotics, trying to build the Caterpillar of construction and maintenance on orbit. Not a lot to show yet but that’s unsurprising because it takes quite a while to get this sort of thing built up to the point where your printing prototypes or bending metal, and it’s along road from there to putting anything into orbit. Didn’t make the cut for YC Summer 2023, looking forward to applying again with 6 more months of development progress…

starik36 3y ago
Any thought given to the fact that every startup in the past decade that attempted in-orbit manufacturing failed or had massive trouble?
- distortionfield 3y ago
  I’m sure they haven’t thought about it at all /s Seriously, what kind of question is this? The entire point of engineering is to try things that are new or have not previously been done. Do you think SpaceX gave a lot of thought to prior failures around reusability?
  - starik36 3y ago
    My point is that all these companies over the years made grand proclamations until they hit the hard reality that manufacturing in space is either not feasible, not economic, not possible or too complicated. I am skeptical at this point.
- techdragon 3y ago
  Yep. It’s why we’re not focusing on manufacturing. There’s plenty of demand for maintenance like the life extension services based on getting maximum value from existing hardware on orbit, Lockheed Martin have sold several Mission Extension Vehicles and that’s just the tip of the iceberg for that market. There’s other factors such that make now the time, contracts and money changing hands for commercial space stations, with two firmly underway with a third looking promising and two more potential ones from legitimately capable companies just not yet past the point where it’s clear construction will take place. All sorts of stuff can last longer and have better ROI for owners and operators if suitable maintenance can be performed on it.

starik36 3y ago

Any thought given to the fact that every startup in the past decade that attempted in-orbit manufacturing failed or had massive trouble?

distortionfield 3y ago
I’m sure they haven’t thought about it at all /s Seriously, what kind of question is this? The entire point of engineering is to try things that are new or have not previously been done. Do you think SpaceX gave a lot of thought to prior failures around reusability?
- starik36 3y ago
  My point is that all these companies over the years made grand proclamations until they hit the hard reality that manufacturing in space is either not feasible, not economic, not possible or too complicated. I am skeptical at this point.
techdragon 3y ago
Yep. It’s why we’re not focusing on manufacturing. There’s plenty of demand for maintenance like the life extension services based on getting maximum value from existing hardware on orbit, Lockheed Martin have sold several Mission Extension Vehicles and that’s just the tip of the iceberg for that market. There’s other factors such that make now the time, contracts and money changing hands for commercial space stations, with two firmly underway with a third looking promising and two more potential ones from legitimately capable companies just not yet past the point where it’s clear construction will take place. All sorts of stuff can last longer and have better ROI for owners and operators if suitable maintenance can be performed on it.