§ 4.1 The Space Environment and Manufacturing -- Advantages and Disadvantages
The manufacturing environment in orbital space is much more flexible than on Earth, and more flexible than that on the lunar surface.
Some mission scenarios to date have employed conventional Earth processes in order to reduce perceived risk and give a "worst case scenario", while citing probable major improvements by using space-specific processes. For example: "Facility mass and power estimates for the basic manufacturing equipment ... have been based on data for similar Earth production equipment. For in-space or lunar surface use the mass and perhaps the power consumption associated with these facilities can be reduced considerably." (General Dynamics)
When serious private sector plans are made, they will undoubtedly look for greater efficiency and effectiveness than some of the government funded studies to date, and will go into greater detail in plans for a space manufacturing facility (SMF), though they will probably be marked "Company Confidential".
|
Environment
Back to 
Forward to