§ 4.7 Manufacturing Overview

It is beyond the scope of this website to cover the manufacturing methods to be used to build everything in space. Those kinds of things are well covered in the engineering and scientific literature. I've tried to just touch the surface to keep things in perspective, and point out the main differences between operating in space versus Earth.

There are approximately 220 specific methods of manufacturing, which are divisible into five general categories of materials manipulation on Earth: casting, molding, deformation, machining, and joining.

Manufacturing in space environment will introduce many new methods to this list, due to zero gravity and different centrifugal gravities, vacuum, and solar ovens.

Conversely, many methods used on Earth are unattractive for use in space, sometimes due to the need for rapid heat rejection or wastefulness of materials. Some Earth processes work better in space, and some are inappropriate for space.

§ 4.7.1 Vapor and droplet deposition in vacuum
§ 4.7.2 Cutting in vacuum
§ 4.7.3 Welding in vacuum
§ 4.7.4 Containerless processing melting and casting
§ 4.7.5 Powder metallurgy (under construction)