As I’ve mentioned in several episodes now, humanity is in a bit of a transition period, a time when it makes sense to launch material up and out of Earth’s gravity well into orbit, and beyond. But it’s really expensive, costing up to $10,000 per pound you want in orbit, and 10 times if you want it on the Moon.
But over the coming decades, more and more of our space-based infrastructure will be built in space, manufactured out of materials that were mined in space.
The only thing that’ll actually need to leave the Earth’s clingy gravity well will be us, the humans, the tourists, wanting to visit all that space infrastructure.
Of course, in order to achieve that space future, engineers and mission planners will need to design and construct the technology that will make this possible.
That means testing out new prototypes, technologies and methodologies for mining and space-based manufacturing.
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References:
https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/07/nasas-technology-program-funds-ambitious-in-space-manufacturing-mission/
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-funds-demo-of-3d-printed-spacecraft-parts-made-assembled-in-orbit
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4818
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-announces-new-partnerships-to-develop-space-exploration-technologies
https://madeinspace.us/press-releases/made-in-space-inc-completes-successful-ground-based-manufacturing-assembly-testing-for-archinaut-program/
https://www.space.com/40516-made-in-space-vulcan-nasa-contract.html
https://madeinspace.us/capabilities-and-technology/vulcan/
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/upward33bookv4web.pdf
https://madeinspace.us/capabilities-and-technology/plastic-recycler/