<?xml version="1.0"?>
<feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xml:lang="en">
	<id>https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&amp;feed=atom&amp;title=Space_manufacturing</id>
	<title>Space manufacturing - Revision history</title>
	<link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&amp;feed=atom&amp;title=Space_manufacturing"/>
	<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Space_manufacturing&amp;action=history"/>
	<updated>2026-09-07T10:57:37Z</updated>
	<subtitle>Revision history for this page on the wiki</subtitle>
	<generator>MediaWiki 1.43.6</generator>
	<entry>
		<id>https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Space_manufacturing&amp;diff=416818&amp;oldid=prev</id>
		<title>Ajay Kumar: Created a new article</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Space_manufacturing&amp;diff=416818&amp;oldid=prev"/>
		<updated>2023-08-21T07:19:16Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Created a new article&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;New page&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div&gt;{{short description|Production of manufactured goods in an environment outside a planetary atmosphere}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2015}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{More citations needed|date=August 2023}}&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Future Moon base.jpg|alt=|thumb|450x450px|A vision of a future Moon base that could be produced and maintained using 3D printing.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web|title=Off-Earth manufacturing: using local resources to build a new home|url=https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Preparing_for_the_Future/Discovery_and_Preparation/Off-Earth_manufacturing_using_local_resources_to_build_a_new_home|access-date=2020-09-09|website=www.esa.int|language=en}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Crystals grown in microgravity.jpg|thumb|Crystals grown by American scientists on the Russian Space Station &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Mir]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; in 1995: (a) [[rhombohedral]] [[canavalin]], (b) [[creatine kinase]], (c) [[lysozyme]], (d) [[beef]] [[catalase]], (e) porcine [[alpha amylase]], (f) [[fungal catalase]], (g) [[myglobin]], (h) [[Lectin|concanavalin B]], (i) [[thaumatin]], (j) apo[[ferritin]], (k) [[satellite tobacco mosaic virus]] and (l) [[hexagonal canavalin]].&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite journal|pmid=11541085|year=1996|last1=Koszelak|first1=S|title=Crystallization of biological macromolecules from flash frozen samples on the Russian Space Station Mir|journal=Biotechnology and Bioengineering|volume=52|issue=4|pages=449–58|last2=Leja|first2=C|last3=McPherson|first3=A|doi=10.1002/(SICI)1097-0290(19961120)52:4&amp;lt;449::AID-BIT1&amp;gt;3.0.CO;2-P|s2cid=36939988 }}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Insulin crystals comparison.jpg|right|thumb|Comparison of [[insulin]] crystals growth in outer space (left) and on [[Earth]] (right).]]&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Space manufacturing&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the production of tangible [[goods]] beyond [[Earth]]. Since most production capabilities are limited to [[low Earth orbit]], the term in-orbit manufacturing is also frequently used.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
There are several rationales supporting in-space manufacturing:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
* The space environment, in particular the effects of [[Micro-g environment|microgravity]] and [[vacuum]], enable the research of and production of goods that could otherwise not be manufactured on Earth.&lt;br /&gt;
* The extraction and processing of raw materials from other [[Astronomical object|astronomical bodies]], also called [[In situ resource utilization|In-Situ Resource Utilisation (ISRU)]] could enable more sustainable space exploration missions at reduced cost compared to launching all required resources from Earth.&lt;br /&gt;
* Raw materials could be transported to low Earth orbit where they could be processed into goods that are shipped to Earth. By replacing terrestrial production on Earth, this  seeks to preserve the Earth.&lt;br /&gt;
* Raw materials of very high value, for example gold, silver, or platinum, could be transported to low Earth orbit for processing or transfer to Earth which is thought to have the potential to become economically viable.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
During the [[Soyuz 6]] mission of 1969, [[Russia]]n cosmonauts performed the first welding experiments in space. Three different welding processes were tested using a hardware unit called Vulkan. The tests included welding [[aluminum]], [[titanium]], and [[stainless steel]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[Skylab]] mission, launched in May 1973, served as a laboratory to perform various space manufacturing experiments. The station was equipped with a materials processing facility that included a multi-purpose electric [[Industrial furnace|furnace]], a [[crystal]] growth chamber, and an [[electron]] beam gun. Among the experiments to be performed was research on molten metal processing; photographing the behavior of ignited materials in zero-gravity; crystal growth; processing of immiscible [[alloy]]s; [[brazing]] of [[stainless steel]] tubes, [[electron beam welding]], and the formation of spheres from [[molten]] metal. The crew spent a total of 32 man-hours on materials science and space manufacturing investigation during the mission.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[Space Studies Institute]] began hosting a bi-annual &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Space Manufacturing Conference&amp;#039;&amp;#039; in 1977 {{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Microgravity research in materials processing continued in 1983 using the [[Spacelab]] facility. This module has been carried into orbit 26 times aboard the [[Space Shuttle]], {{As of|2002|lc=on}}. In this role the shuttle served as an interim, short-duration research platform before the completion of the [[International Space Station]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Wake shield facility.jpg|thumb|The Wake Shield Facility is deployed by the Space Shuttle&amp;#039;s [[Remote Manipulator System|robotic arm]]. &amp;#039;&amp;#039;NASA image&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]]&lt;br /&gt;
In February 1994 and September 1995, the [[Wake Shield Facility]] was carried into orbit by the [[Space Shuttle]]. This demonstration platform used the vacuum created in the orbital wake to manufacture thin films of [[gallium arsenide]] and [[aluminum]] gallium arsenide.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On May 31, 2005, the recoverable, uncrewed [[Foton-M2]] laboratory was launched into orbit. Among the experiments were crystal growth and the behavior of molten-metal in weightlessness.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The completion of the [[International Space Station]] has provided expanded and improved facilities for performing industrial research. These have and will continue to lead to improvements in our knowledge of materials sciences, new manufacturing techniques on Earth, and potentially some important discoveries in space manufacturing methods. [[NASA]] and [[Tethers Unlimited]] will test the Refabricator aboard the ISS, which is intended to recycle plastic for use in space additive manufacturing.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite magazine |magazine=[[Aviation Week]] |quote=Researchers from NASA and Tethers Unlimited Inc., of Bothell, Washington, are collaborating as well on the demonstration of a Refabricator. The small, refrigerator-sized device is intended to recycle plastic waste, including packing materials, bags and food containers into feed stock for the space additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, of replacement parts and other equipment that would otherwise require launch mass and volume. |title=ISS Cargo Missions To Test Soyuz, Deliver New Science |first=Mark |last=Carreau |date=November 14, 2018 |url=http://aviationweek.com/space/iss-cargo-missions-test-soyuz-deliver-new-science?NL=AW-05&amp;amp;Issue=AW-05_20181115_AW-05_73&amp;amp;sfvc4enews=42&amp;amp;cl=article_4&amp;amp;elq2=1baf6ee9720c435fbb2cf9def871857e}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Material Science Laboratory Electromagnetic Levitator (MSL-EML) on board the [[Columbus (ISS module)|Columbus Laboratory]] is a science facility that can be used to study the melting and solidification properties of various materials. The [[Fluid Science Laboratory]] (FSL) is used to study the behavior of liquids in microgravity.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web | date =July 18, 2007 | url =http://www.esa.int/esaHS/ESAAYI0VMOC_iss_0.html&lt;br /&gt;
 | title =Columbus laboratory | publisher =ESA | accessdate = July 18, 2007 }}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Material properties in the space environment==&lt;br /&gt;
There are several unique differences between the properties of materials in space compared to the same materials on the Earth. These differences can be exploited to produce unique or improved manufacturing techniques.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
* The microgravity environment allows control of convection in liquids or gasses, and the elimination of sedimentation. Diffusion becomes the primary means of material mixing, allowing otherwise immiscible materials to be intermixed.&lt;br /&gt;
* The environment allows enhanced growth of larger, higher-quality crystals in solution.&lt;br /&gt;
* The ultraclean vacuum of space allows the creation of very pure materials and objects. The use of vapor deposition can be used to build up materials layer by layer, free from defects.&lt;br /&gt;
* Surface tension causes liquids in microgravity to form perfectly round spheres. This can cause problems when trying to pump liquids through a conduit, but it is very useful when perfect spheres of consistent size are needed for an application.&lt;br /&gt;
* Space can provide readily available extremes of heat and cold. Sunlight can be focused to concentrate enough heat to melt the materials, while objects kept in perpetual shade are exposed to temperatures close to absolute zero. The temperature gradient can be exploited to produce strong, glassy materials.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Material processing==&lt;br /&gt;
For most manufacturing applications, specific material requirements must be satisfied. [[Mineral]] [[ore]]s need to be [[refine]]d to extract specific [[metal]]s, and [[volatile organic compound]]s will need to be purified. Ideally these raw materials are delivered to the processing site in an economical manner, where time to arrival, [[Spacecraft propulsion|propulsion]] [[energy]] expenditure, and [[Resource extraction|extraction]] costs are factored into the [[planning]] process. Minerals can be obtained from [[asteroid]]s, the lunar surface, or a planetary body. Volatiles could potentially be obtained from a [[comet]], carbonaceous chondrite or &amp;quot;C-Type&amp;quot; asteroids, or the [[Natural satellite|moon]]s of [[Mars]] or other planets. It may also prove possible to extract [[hydrogen]] in the form of water ice or hydrated minerals from cold traps on the poles of the [[Moon]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Unless the materials processing and the manufacturing sites are co-located with the resource extraction facilities, the raw materials would need to be moved about the [[Solar System]]. There are several proposed means of providing propulsion for this material, including [[solar sail]]s, [[electric sail]]s, [[magnetic sail]]s, electric [[ion thruster]]s, [[microwave electrothermal thruster]]s, or [[mass driver]]s (this last method uses a sequence of electromagnets mounted in a line to accelerate a conducting material).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At the materials processing facility, the incoming materials will need to be captured by some means. Maneuvering rockets attached to the load can park the content in a matching orbit. Alternatively, if the load is moving at a low [[delta-v]] relative to the destination, then it can be captured by means of a [[mass catcher]]. This could consist of a large, flexible net or inflatable structure that would transfer the [[momentum]] of the mass to the larger facility. Once in place, the materials can be moved into place by mechanical means or by means of small thrusters.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Materials can be used for manufacturing either in their raw form, or by processing them to extract the constituent elements. Processing techniques include various [[chemistry|chemical]], [[heat|thermal]], [[electrolysis|electrolytic]], and [[magnet]]ic methods for separation. In the near term, relatively straightforward methods can be used to extract [[aluminum]], [[iron]], [[oxygen]], and [[silicon]] from lunar and asteroidal sources. Less concentrated elements will likely require more advanced processing facilities, which may have to wait until a space manufacturing infrastructure is fully developed.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Some of the chemical processes will require a source of [[hydrogen]] for the production of water and [[acid]] mixtures. Hydrogen gas can also be used to extract oxygen from the lunar [[regolith]], although the process is not very efficient.{{Clarify|date=February 2010}}{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}} So a readily available source of useful volatiles is a positive factor in the development of space manufacturing.  Alternatively, oxygen can be liberated from the lunar regolith without reusing any imported materials by heating the regolith to {{cvt|2,500|C|order=flip}} in a vacuum.  This was tested on Earth with lunar simulant in a vacuum chamber.  As much as 20% of the sample was released as free oxygen.  Eric Cardiff calls the remainder slag.  This process is highly efficient in terms of imported materials used up per batch, but is not the most efficient process in energy per kilogram of oxygen.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite news |url=https://phys.org/news/2006-05-moonrocks.html |title=Breathing Moonrocks |work=Phys.org |date=May 8, 2006}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
One proposed method of purifying asteroid materials is through the use of [[carbon monoxide]] (CO). Heating the material to {{cvt|500|F}} and exposing it to CO causes the metals to form gaseous [[carbonyl]]s. This vapor can then be distilled to separate out the [[metal]] components, and the CO can then be recovered by another heating cycle. Thus an automated ship can scrape up loose surface materials&lt;br /&gt;
from, say, the relatively nearby [[4660 Nereus]] (in delta-v terms), process the ore using solar heating and CO, and eventually return with a load of almost pure metal. The economics of this process can potentially allow the material to be extracted at one-twentieth the cost of launching from Earth, but it would require a two-year round trip to return any mined ore.{{Citation needed|date=June 2008}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Manufacturing==&lt;br /&gt;
Due to [[speed of light]] constraints on communication, manufacturing in space at a distant point of resource acquisition will either require completely autonomous robotics to perform the labor, or a human crew with all the accompanying habitat and safety requirements. If the plant is built in orbit around the [[Earth]], or near a crewed [[space habitat]], however, [[Telerobotics|telerobotic devices]] can be used for certain tasks that require human intelligence and flexibility.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Solar power]] provides a readily available power source for thermal processing. Even with heat alone, simple thermally-fused materials can be used for basic construction of stable structures. Bulk soil from the Moon or asteroids has a very low water content, and when melted to form glassy materials is very durable. These simple, [[glass]]y solids can be used for the assembly of habitats on the surface of the Moon or elsewhere. The solar energy can be concentrated in the manufacturing area using an array of steerable [[mirror]]s.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The availability and favorable physical properties of metals will make them a major component of space manufacturing. Most of the metal handling techniques used on Earth can also be adopted for space manufacturing. A few of these techniques will need significant modifications due to the [[microgravity]] environment.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The production of hardened [[steel]] in space will introduce some new factors. [[Carbon]] only appears in small proportions in lunar surface materials and will need to be delivered from elsewhere. Waste materials carried by humans from the Earth is one possible source, as are comets. The water normally used to quench steel will also be in short supply, and require strong agitation.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Casting (metalworking)|Casting]] steel can be a difficult process in microgravity, requiring special heating and injection processes, or spin forming. Heating can be performed using sunlight combined with electrical heaters. The casting process would also need to be managed to avoid the formation of voids as the steel cools and shrinks.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Various metal-working techniques can be used to shape the metal into the desired form. The standard methods are casting, [[Drawing (manufacturing)|drawing]], [[forging]], [[machining]], [[Rolling (metalworking)|rolling]], and [[welding]]. Both rolling and drawing metals require heating and subsequent cooling. Forging and extrusion can require powered presses, as gravity is not available. Electron beam welding has already been demonstrated on board the [[Skylab]], and will probably be the method of choice in space. Machining operations can require precision tools which will need to be imported from the Earth for some duration.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
New space manufacturing technologies are being studied at places such as Marshall&amp;#039;s &amp;#039;&amp;#039;National Center for Advanced Manufacturing&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. The methods being investigated include coatings that can be sprayed on surfaces in space using a combination of heat and kinetic energy, and electron beam free form fabrication&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite news |last=Dillow |first=Clay |date=September 29, 2009 |url=http://www.popsci.com/military-aviation-amp-space/article/2009-09/iss-could-get-its-own-electron-beam-fabrication-3d-printer |title=ISS Could Get its Own Electron-Beam Fabrication 3-D Printer |work=Popular Science |accessdate=2015-11-24}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; of parts. Approaches such as these, as well as examination of material properties that can be investigated in an orbiting laboratory, will be studied on the [[International Space Station]] by NASA and Made In Space, Inc.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Basulto, Dominic. (June 26, 2013) [https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/wp/2013/06/27/get-ready-3d-printing-may-be-coming-to-a-planet-near-you/ Get ready, 3D printing may be coming to a planet near you]. The Washington Post. Retrieved on 2015-11-24.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==3D-printing in space==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The option of [[3D printing]] items in space holds many advantages over manufacturing situated on Earth. With 3D printing technologies, rather than exporting tools and equipment from Earth into space, astronauts have the option to manufacture needed items directly. On-demand patterns of manufacturing make long-distance space travel more feasible and self-sufficient as space excursions require less cargo. Mission safety is also improved.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[Made In Space, Inc.]] [[3D printer]]s, which launched in 2014 to the [[International Space Station]], are designed specifically for a zero-gravity or micro-gravity environment. The effort was awarded the Phase III Small Business Innovation and Research Contract.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;madeinspace&amp;quot;&amp;gt;[http://www.madeinspace.us/made-in-space-and-nasa-to-send-first-3d-printer-into-space &amp;quot;NASA to send first 3D printer into space&amp;quot;] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701202733/http://www.madeinspace.us/made-in-space-and-nasa-to-send-first-3d-printer-into-space |date=July 1, 2014 }}. Madeinspace.us (May 31, 2013). Retrieved on 2015-11-24.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; The Additive Manufacturing Facility will be used by [[NASA]] to carry out repairs (including during emergency situations), upgrades, and installation.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;madeinspace2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;[http://www.madeinspace.us/projects &amp;quot;Additive Manufacturing Facility for ISS: NASA SBIR Phase 2&amp;quot;] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113013857/http://www.madeinspace.us/projects |date=November 13, 2013 }}. Madeinspace.us. Retrieved on November 24, 2015.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Made In Space lists the advantages of 3D printing as easy customization, minimal raw material waste, optimized parts, faster production time, integrated electronics, limited human interaction, and option to modify the printing process.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;madeinspace2&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Refabricator experiment, under development by Firmamentum, a division of [[Tethers Unlimited, Inc.]] under a NASA Phase III Small Business Innovation Research contract, combines a recycling system and a 3D printer to perform demonstration of closed-cycle in-space manufacturing on the International Space Station (ISS).&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Refabricator&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{Cite web |url=http://www.geekwire.com/2016/nasa-firmamentum-3-d-printer-recycler-space/ |work=GeekWire |title=NASA picks Firmamentum to build a 3-D printer/recycler for use in space |first=Alan |last=Boyle |date=June 23, 2016 |accessdate=2016-09-21}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; The Refabricator experiment, which was delivered to the ISS aboard [[Cygnus NG-10]] on November 19th, 2018,&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web|last=Clark|first=Stephen|title=Space station receives second of back-to-back cargo deliveries – Spaceflight Now|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/11/19/space-station-receives-second-of-back-to-back-cargo-deliveries/|access-date=2021-02-11|language=en-US}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; processes plastic feedstock through multiple printing and recycling cycles to evaluate how many times the plastic materials can be re-used in the microgravity environment before their polymers degrade to unacceptable levels.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web|date=2019-02-15|title=3D printer on International Space Station allows astronauts to recycle, reuse, repeat|url=https://www.plasticstoday.com/3d-printing/3d-printer-international-space-station-allows-astronauts-recycle-reuse-repeat|access-date=2021-02-11|website=plasticstoday.com|language=en}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Additionally, 3D printing in space can also account for the printing of meals. [[NASA]]&amp;#039;s Advanced Food Technology program is currently investigating the possibility of printing food items in order to improve food quality, nutrient content, and variety.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/home/feature_3d_food.html |title=3D Printing: Food in Space |date=May 23, 2013 |work=NASA |accessdate=2015-11-24}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Airbus]] is developing and planning with the [[European Space Agency]] to send and test the first 3D-printer printing metals in space at the ISS in a year from 2022, and establishing space manufacturing in three to four years from 2022.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Airbus 2022&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite web | title=In space manufacturing and assembly | website=Airbus | date=2022-05-30 | url=https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/news/2022-05-in-space-manufacturing-and-assembly | access-date=2022-06-06}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Products==&lt;br /&gt;
There are thought to be a number of useful products that can potentially be manufactured in space and result in an economic benefit. Research and development is required to determine the best commodities to be produced, and to find efficient production methods. The following products are considered prospective early candidates:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
* Growth of [[Protein crystallization|protein crystals]]&lt;br /&gt;
* Improved [[semiconductor]] wafers&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Micro-encapsulation]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As the infrastructure is developed and the cost of assembly drops, some of the manufacturing capacity can be directed toward the development of expanded facilities in space, including larger scale manufacturing plants. These will likely require the use of lunar and asteroid materials, and so follow the development of mining bases.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Rock is the simplest product, and at minimum is useful for radiation shielding. It can also be subsequently processed to extract elements for various uses.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Water from lunar sources, [[Near Earth Asteroids]] or [[Martian moons]] is thought to be relatively cheap and simple to extract, and gives adequate performance for many manufacturing and material shipping purposes. Separation of water into hydrogen and oxygen can be easily performed in small scale, but some scientists&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web |url=http://www.neofuel.com/ |title = neofuel home page}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; believe that this will not be performed on any large scale initially due to the large quantity of equipment and electrical energy needed to split water and liquify the resultant gases. Water used in steam rockets gives a [[specific impulse]] of about 190 seconds;{{Citation needed|date=May 2007}} less than half that of hydrogen/oxygen, but this is adequate for delta-v&amp;#039;s that are found between Mars and Earth.{{Citation needed|date=May 2007}} Water is useful as a radiation shield and in many chemical processes.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Ceramic]]s made from lunar or asteroid soil can be employed for a variety of manufacturing purposes.{{Citation needed|date=May 2007}} These uses include various thermal and electrical insulators, such as heat shields for payloads being delivered to the Earth&amp;#039;s surface.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Metals can be used to assemble a variety of useful products, including sealed containers (such as tanks and pipes), mirrors for focusing sunlight, and thermal radiators. The use of metals for electrical devices would require insulators for the wires, so a flexible insulating material such as plastic or fiberglass will be needed.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A notable output of space manufacturing is expected to be solar panels. Expansive solar energy arrays can be constructed and assembled in space. As the structure does not need to support the loads that would be experienced on Earth, huge arrays can be assembled out of proportionately smaller amounts of material. The generated energy can then be used to power manufacturing facilities, habitats, spacecraft, lunar bases, and even beamed down to collectors on the Earth with [[microwave]]s.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Other possibilities for space manufacturing include propellants for spacecraft, some repair parts for spacecraft and space habitats, and, of course, larger factories.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite report |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/307607599 |last1=Skomorohov|first1=Ruslan|last2=Hein|first2=Andreas Makot|last3=Welch|first3=Chris |title=In-orbit Spacecraft Manufacturing: Near-Term Business Cases |date=September 5, 2016  |institution=International Space University / Initiative for Interstellar Studies}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Ultimately, space manufacturing facilities can hypothetically become nearly self-sustaining, requiring only minimal imports from the Earth. The microgravity environment allows for new possibilities in construction on a massive scale, including [[megascale engineering]]. These future projects might potentially assemble [[space elevator]]s, massive solar array farms, very high capacity spacecraft, and rotating habitats capable of sustaining populations of tens of thousands of people in Earth-like conditions.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Challenges ==&lt;br /&gt;
The space environment is expected to be beneficial for production of a variety of products assuming the obstacles to it can be overcome. The most significant cost is overcoming the energy hurdle for boosting materials into orbit. Once this barrier is significantly reduced in cost per [[kilogram]], the entry price for space manufacturing can make it much more attractive to entrepreneurs. After the heavy [[Capital (economics)|capitalization costs]] of assembling the [[mining]] and manufacturing facilities are paid, the production will need to be economically profitable in order to become self-sustaining and beneficial to society.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The economic requirements of space manufacturing imply a need to collect the requisite raw materials at a minimum energy cost. The cost of space transport is directly related to the [[delta-v]], or change in velocity required to move from the mining sites to the manufacturing plants. Bringing material to Earth orbit from bodies such as [[Near-Earth asteroid]]s, [[Phobos (moon)|Phobos]], [[Deimos (moon)|Deimos]] or the [[Moon|lunar]] surface requires far less delta-v than launching from Earth itself, despite the greater distances involved. This makes these places economically attractive as sources of raw materials.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==See also==&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Leaching (metallurgy)|Acid leaching]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Asteroid mining]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[In situ resource utilization]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Manufacturing of the International Space Station|ISS manufacturing]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Self-replication]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Space-based economy]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Space colonization]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Space elevator]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Spacelab]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Varda Space Industries]]&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!-- * [[Shackleton Energy Company]] Shackleton Energy is bankrupt --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==References==&lt;br /&gt;
{{Reflist}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Further reading==&lt;br /&gt;
* Andrew H. Cutler, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Metallurgical Properties of Lunar and Asteroidal Steels&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, 7th Princeton/AIAA/SSI Conference, 1985.&lt;br /&gt;
* David Gump, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Space Enterprise: Beyond NASA&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, Praeger Publishers, 1990, {{ISBN|0-275-93314-8}}.&lt;br /&gt;
* T. A. Heppenheimer, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Colonies in Space&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, 1977, Stackpole Books, {{ISBN|0-8117-0397-5}}.&lt;br /&gt;
* Lewis, J., Matthews, M.S., and Guerrieri, M.L., Editors, 1993, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[https://web.archive.org/web/20080504053122/http://www.uapress.arizona.edu/onlinebks/ResourcesNearEarthSpace/contents.php Resources of Near-Earth Space]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, University of Arizona Press, 1993. {{ISBN|978-0-8165-1404-5}}.&lt;br /&gt;
* {{Cite conference |first=Bruno W. |last=Wahl |title=Analysis of Selected Opportunities for Manufacturing in Space |url=http://commons.erau.edu/space-congress-proceedings/proceedings-1969-6th-v2/session-11/2 |publisher=McDonald Douglas Astronautics Company |year=1968}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==External links==&lt;br /&gt;
{{Commons category|Microgravity}}&lt;br /&gt;
* [http://www.permanent.com PERMANENT &amp;amp;mdash; near-term space resource utilization]&lt;br /&gt;
* [http://www.ssi.org/ Space Studies Institute]&lt;br /&gt;
* [https://history.nasa.gov/EP-107/contents.htm SKYLAB: A Guidebook] (&amp;#039;&amp;#039;see&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 5, section 4)&lt;br /&gt;
* [http://www.spacehab.com/ Spacehab]&lt;br /&gt;
* [http://www.svec.uh.edu/wsfp.html Wake Shield Facility program]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[v:Lunar Boom Town]] A role playing study group at Wikiversity where participants plan and study future space ventures.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{DEFAULTSORT:Space Manufacturing}}&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Space manufacturing| ]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Ajay Kumar</name></author>
	</entry>
</feed>