This is truly incredible stuff. The mind-boggling concept, the speed of execution, and a successful government contract within 2 years. Reminds me of what made "Silicon Valley" a magical space for the "believers" and not the "corporate warriors looking for their next Pre-IPO career opportunity".
There's something missing in the presented space-manufacturing economics and is aggravating with time which are the environmental costs of launching as they become part of manufacturing logistics. If space-manufacturing is to become mainstream it has to account for these costs. Now it the space-manufacturing is to avoid exactly the environmental impact, then other niche areas might be more interesting other than the pharmaceutical industry.
Even ignoring initial launch cost - SpaceX launch cost per additional kg is $5500.
Seems like a pretty big cost.
Then there's rent: how much is the cost of actually keeping an operating manufacturing plant in space? Employee cost? Cost to bring back down from orbit?
yup, why on earth would the pharma companies manufacture things on space when developing countries can manufacture things so much cheaper. ie: cheap lands, cheap labour,etc. It just doesn't make sense to me at this stage.
My point is that you need to send things to the space, manufacture and then send it back. Assuming the things you said could be true, there are just alot of fictions and anything mess up in between, it will be a huge headache to all parties. Also, I believe creating a gravity less environment in earth should be cheaper than manufacturing in space. (that is my assumption, not an expert) Not trying to comment negatively but trying to be more realistic. Great piece by the way. It is great to see that human is taking a leap forward and hope to see more similar ventures.
The only way to experience true microgravity for extended periods of time is to go to space. On Earth, it is (currently) only possible to create a microgravity environment for a brief period of time, for example with parabolic flights or with drop towers.
This is truly incredible stuff. The mind-boggling concept, the speed of execution, and a successful government contract within 2 years. Reminds me of what made "Silicon Valley" a magical space for the "believers" and not the "corporate warriors looking for their next Pre-IPO career opportunity".
It’s amazing and definitely a bit magical — the number of things that have had to happen, done well, and in order is really impressive.
Wow the most impressive thing in this article is they only slipped a quarter to the right for aerospace that's practically unheard-of.
Incredible piece. Thank you!
How long does the varda flywheel continue? Doesn’t the DoD get all the testing completed that it needs within a few years?
Will Bruey has been different from the beginning. So happy for him and the amazing team he’s put together.
There's something missing in the presented space-manufacturing economics and is aggravating with time which are the environmental costs of launching as they become part of manufacturing logistics. If space-manufacturing is to become mainstream it has to account for these costs. Now it the space-manufacturing is to avoid exactly the environmental impact, then other niche areas might be more interesting other than the pharmaceutical industry.
Even ignoring initial launch cost - SpaceX launch cost per additional kg is $5500.
Seems like a pretty big cost.
Then there's rent: how much is the cost of actually keeping an operating manufacturing plant in space? Employee cost? Cost to bring back down from orbit?
Now compare this vs. terrestrial cost.
Not the least bit clear there is a win here.
there he is
yup, why on earth would the pharma companies manufacture things on space when developing countries can manufacture things so much cheaper. ie: cheap lands, cheap labour,etc. It just doesn't make sense to me at this stage.
There is still gravity in developing countries.
My point is that you need to send things to the space, manufacture and then send it back. Assuming the things you said could be true, there are just alot of fictions and anything mess up in between, it will be a huge headache to all parties. Also, I believe creating a gravity less environment in earth should be cheaper than manufacturing in space. (that is my assumption, not an expert) Not trying to comment negatively but trying to be more realistic. Great piece by the way. It is great to see that human is taking a leap forward and hope to see more similar ventures.
The only way to experience true microgravity for extended periods of time is to go to space. On Earth, it is (currently) only possible to create a microgravity environment for a brief period of time, for example with parabolic flights or with drop towers.