Manufacturing in Space :: science space manufacturing

Mans capability to take leave the Earth offers many new prospects for the future. Asteroid mining, building launch facilities on the moon, tourism, and space manufacturing are only some of the many opportunities that are organism considered.There are many considerations which must be examined . For example, in the effect of manufacturing in space, economic factors include can it be done on Earth ? If so, which offers a most cost effective venue? environmental factors include both contamination of the plant and whatever pollutants may be generated in the manufacturing process. Let us examine some of the advantages and disadvantages of this enterprise.AdvantagesWhy fiction in space? Space offers many unique conditions which alter the properties of materials manufactured. The both study conditions are lack of gravity and lack of contaminationMicrogravity sobriety causes properties familiar to all of us. One of which is the separation of fluids according to density. With th e removal of gravity, alloys and mixtures of materials with properties antipathetic here on Earth can be made, resulting in alloys or mixtures which have completely different properties than those found on earth. Other processes which gain ground from a lack of gravity include welding, crystal growth, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, non linear middle and photonic materials.ContaminationSpace is a sterile environment. Sensitive production such as semi conductors and biotech would benefit from not having to use expensive equipment to strain out harmful dust which is so prevalent on the Earth.DisadvantagesThe major disadvantage to manufacturing in space is cost. Currently all space sharpness vehicles are government owned. Fee structures for sending materials into space are extortionate and delivery service is both uncertain and infrequent. It costs approximately $20,000.00 per buffeting to send materials into space currently. Although NASAs goal is to get the cost down t o $100.00 per pound sterling it is not likely that this will happen any time soon. plan also remains a problem. The current shuttle fleet go about 7 missions per year compared to a goal of once per week.