The passage discusses the growing field of in-space manufacturing, with a focus on two companies: Varda Space Industries and Space Forge. Varda Space Industries, based in California, is developing a spacecraft to process pharmaceutical active ingredients in space, with the goal of creating new drug therapies. Their business model involves charging customers for in-space manufacturing services and sharing in the profits of any drugs developed off-world in the form of royalties. They have launched their first test mission to manufacture a sample of Ritonavir, the main ingredient in antiviral Paxlovid.
On the other hand, Space Forge, based in Wales, is designing an in-space factory to produce next-generation semiconductors using materials other than silicon. They aim to make more efficient, higher-performing chips using gallium nitride and silicon carbide. Their first vehicle, ForgeStar 1-A, is expected to produce enough material for about 500 chips per flight. They plan to target markets beyond semiconductors in the future, including solar cells, photovoltaic production, carbon nanotubes, graphene composites, and platinum-based compounds for lithium replacement in battery supply chains.
Both companies face challenges, including demonstrating reliability to their partners, gaining reentry approval with live pharmaceutical compounds, and obtaining FDA approval and GMP compliance. Despite these hurdles, the success of these companies could have implications far beyond manufacturing, potentially leading to sustained economic activity in space and the establishment of an industrial park in low earth orbit.
1. The world's first manufacturing satellite is being used to process pharmaceutical active ingredients and change their crystal structure. This is the first proof-of-concept payload for future pharmaceutical manufacturing and R&D missions.
2. In-space manufacturing, although still in its early stages, is considered by analysts and startups as a market ready for growth.
3. The market for pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, beauty and health products, and potentially food, is estimated to be above $10 billion at some point in 2030.
4. Space offers a unique environment for research and development due to its higher levels of radiation, microgravity, and near vacuum-less state. This allows companies to develop new manufacturing methods or materials that are not possible on Earth.
5. The International Space Station has hosted experiments for growing human tissue, making pure semiconductors, and developing new or better drugs. President Biden set aside $5 million for NASA to pursue cancer-related research on the ISS in the 2024 fiscal year budget.
6. Varda Space Industries, a California-based company, aims to help pharmaceutical companies improve their drugs or come up with new drug therapies by taking advantage of the unique properties of space.
7. Varda's business model is to charge customers for the service of in-space manufacturing and share in the profits of any drugs developed off-world in the form of royalties.
8. Space Forge, a UK-based company, is working on designing its own in-space factory to manufacture next-generation semiconductors.
9. Space Forge's goal is to make semiconductor substrates using materials other than silicon to manufacture more efficient, higher-performing chips.
10. Analysts estimate that the global market for advanced semiconductors could reach $73 billion by 2032.
11. Experiments conducted aboard the United States' first space station, Skylab, have proved the concept of creating the perfect crystals in space, which is the secret sauce to achieving performance improvement in semiconductors.
12. Space Forge plans to target markets beyond semiconductors, such as solar cells and photovoltaic production, carbon nanotubes, graphene composites, and platinum-based compounds for battery supply chains.