A futuristic vision of space-based industry, where robotic arms mine asteroids for resources to produce goods in orbit. Credits: Gemini AI
Building beyond Earth is the key to the human future in space and the rescue of natural life on our home planet. It sounds so Spacepolitan.
Listen to Gravity by Lacuna Coil to enjoy reading this post.
Since the dawn of space exploration, everything we have sent beyond Earth has been built on the ground. However, launchers impose strict limits on weight and dimensions, forcing us to construct large structures —like space stations— module by module, assembling them in orbit. In-space manufacturing could change this paradigm.
Initially, we would still need to transport semi-finished products from Earth, but finalizing them in orbit could bypass further size constraints. The following step? Establish orbital factories to process raw materials from Earth and recycle what is already available in orbit. This would unlock space’s unique advantages: microgravity for precision manufacturing, continuous solar energy for power, and an environment free from contaminants that can interfere with delicate processes.
Eventually, mining and refining raw materials directly in space would close the loop, enabling self-sustaining construction beyond Earth’s surface. This could support everything from building space infrastructure to producing spare parts to repair facilities and even manufacturing goods for Earth, the Moon, or Mars, ushering in a new era of space logistics and starting the first space circular economy.
How far are we from this vision? It may seem distant, but progress is accelerating, and the foundations of this future are already being laid.
Do you want to know more? Go to the new page of Becoming Spacepolitans blog: “The Rise of In-Space Manufacturing”.
Space for All! All for Space!
Becoming Spacepolitans 