The massive promise of space factories

Several months ago, California-based Varda Space launched the world’s first commercial space factory. UK-native Space Forge will likely come in second by the end of 2023. In light of their progress, it’s easy to forget that space-based manufacturing had humble beginnings. Decades of toil, failed dreams, and broken promises preceded recent breakthroughs. Today, orbital fabrication is on track to become a major driver of the emerging Space Economy. Some call it The Orbital Age, . the shift from space exploration to space commercialization. But it’s only the beginning. Space-based fabrication has the potential to unlock a series of technological paradigm shifts for our species. Watch this video to learn about the history of space manufacturing, our recent progress, and the fascinating future that this technology could create for humanity. === ADDITIONAL READING & REFERENCES: == Industry Analyses: • Factories in Space: • [McKinsey] How will the space economy change the world? - • [McKinsey] The potential of microgravity: How companies across sectors can venture into space - • [Deloitte] Riding the Exponential Growth In Space - • [Bryce Tech] == Space-Based Solar & Semiconductors: • Ultrathin solar cells promise improved satellite performance: Radiation damage to photovoltaics in orbit can be reduced by making the cells thinner - • A solar power station in space? Here’s how it would work – and the benefits it could bring - • [Alex Ignatiev] ISDC 1997 - The Wake Shield Facility - A Precursor To Future Space Commercialization - == Pharmaceuticals: • Space: The Next Frontier in Drug Development - • The Wonders of Micro-G Medicine - • Pharma Goes to Space - • Pharma Looks to Space to Boost Drug R&D - • A 20 Year Retrospective: The Pharmaceutical Industry Then and Now - == Varda Space /  @vardaspaceindustries2434 • Building Factories in Space: An interview with Delian Asparouhov - • Varda: The Space Drug Factory Expanding the Economic Bounds of Humankind, Starting Today - == Space Forge / @SpaceForge • ForgeStars: How space factories can help fight climate change, Andrew Bacon - • Manufacturing in space: Space Forge’s incredible plans to make next-gen super materials beyond the Kármán line - == Other: • Airbus: In space manufacturing and assembly - • GITAI Space Robotics: @gitai_hiringintheus2394 === VIDEOS YOU SHOULD CHECK: • [European Space Agency] SOLARIS: Preparing for Space-based Solar •  @DamiLeeArch - Can we really build on Mars? - ===== Note about Varda’s latest round of financing: The Techcrunch article states that Varda was in the process of fundraising at the moment of publishing. The company itself hasn’t announced that it closed the round. This, however, is common among startups, and sometimes funding rounds are disclosed with a delay of 6-12 months. Circumstantial evidence (e.g., the deal with Rocket Lab) suggests that Varda has indeed topped up their bank account.