Re:Factories in Space
by wongarsu on Tuesday May 30, 2023 @02:08PM
(#36128308)
> I read somewhere that some specialist types of fibre optic cables already make sense to make in orbit just for the microgravity, but I don't know if that was a proposal to try it or if they already do…
They are testing various prototypes on the ISS since 2019. Apparently the fibre quality is great and better than what we can make on earth [1], and the current prototypes are about automating the process.
I suspect that once access to space (and space stations) becomes cheap enough we will identify a lot of manufacturing processes where gravity is detrimental, and where the end product is valuable enough that shipping to and from space makes sense.
They are testing various prototypes on the ISS since 2019. Apparently the fibre quality is great and better than what we can make on earth [1], and the current prototypes are about automating the process.
I suspect that once access to space (and space stations) becomes cheap enough we will identify a lot of manufacturing processes where gravity is detrimental, and where the end product is valuable enough that shipping to and from space makes sense.
1: https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/flightopportunit...