Zero Gravity Factories: The Future of Space Manufacturing
Startups and big tech companies are exploring the possibilities of manufacturing in space, taking advantage of zero-gravity conditions to produce high-quality products such as computer parts, stem cells, and pharmaceuticals. NASA has granted funding for research into stem cell and gene therapies in zero-gravity, while companies like Merck and Bristol Myers Squibb are testing the production of drugs in space. Advocates argue that space offers ideal conditions for certain industrial processes due to the lack of gravity, low temperatures, and near-perfect vacuum. The goal is to develop an off-Earth manufacturing economy, but challenges remain, as demonstrated by the recent denial of a re-entry license for a space drugs factory. However, with the decommissioning of the International Space Station in 2031 and the rise of privately owned shuttles, the opportunities for off-planet factories are expected to increase.