"Semiconductors require extremely precise conditions to make, and both NASA and industry groups have argued that the microgravity environment of space is better for their manufacturing than that of Earth. The reasons why are varied, but part of it has to do with how silicon behaves in such an environmentit's just easier to get the material to adhere to the structure needed to make a semiconductor."
"The key difference here is that this was done uncrewed, without any people, on an entirely commercial spacecraft, he says. This demonstration shows that semiconductor crystal manufacturing can happen in space just using machines. Keeping people alive in space is expensive, Swope adds. If machines can do that work instead, it brings down the cost of doing manufacturing in space."
Space Forge launched ForgeStar-1 in June and created plasma aboard a commercial satellite for the first time, aiming to manufacture semiconductors in space without humans. Microgravity eases silicon behavior and adherence during semiconductor crystal formation, and both NASA and industry groups have argued space offers better manufacturing conditions than Earth. The demonstration builds on International Space Station work but is notable for being uncrewed and entirely commercial. Machine-only manufacturing aboard satellites reduces the high costs of keeping people alive in space. Space Forge's CEO said the company proved the right environment for semiconductor manufacturing can be achieved on a dedicated commercial satellite, opening a new manufacturing frontier.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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