We have talked about many space races so far. Countries that initially wanted to go to the space frontier later started their first Moon programs. While this race continues for Mars, the first factoryization race in space has begun. So why is producing in a zero-gravity environment such an important phenomenon? Here is the idea and details of space factories…
Why is it so important to produce in space, in a zero-gravity environment?
First of all, if you have not watched the Wall-E animation, we recommend you to watch it. Because the first example of this issue is pollution, and we can best explain it with that animation. In the movie Wall-E, the story revolves around a robot who stays on Earth and cleans up the messes of people who have left the world. Perhaps the biggest factor in the formation of this pollution is factories and production.
Although we take steps to protect nature and the environment, no step is 100 percent successful. So one day our planet will really turn into a huge garbage dump. However, the human race focused on consumption will continue to consume more and create more garbage. In the short term, the most logical solution to this problem may seem to be “colonization on Mars”.
But think about it, you have to create a life there from scratch. Probably no one will like the idea of traveling on Mars with 20 kilograms of clothes and a 10 kilogram oxygen tank. That’s why it makes the most sense to stay on the blue planet. But what if we send those who create pollution into space?
This idea seems absurd and even more harmful at first. However, when we look at the content of the work, the situation is very different. A factory to be established in space will not be subject to the strict rules of physics as on Earth. For example, gravity or fluid mechanics. Or perhaps the biggest problem on production lines: wear and friction.
Space is less affected by all these laws of physics. This means that there is a perfect level of cutting, vacuuming, etc. in space. It means manufacturing labor. The detail you should not miss here is that as long as the “manufacturing workmanship is kept at an excellent level”, there is less pollution and cost. Of course, heavy industrial enterprises, which emit toxic gases but are necessary for the continuation of life, have the advantage of polluting the Earth less by being located in space.
Many companies are making breakthroughs on the subject. Billionaire Jeff Bezos is also closely interested in space factories. For now, there is no revolutionary step in this regard, but it is not impossible to use a smartphone produced in space in the future.
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