Parts I & II of this series looked at what the current payload into space looks like and how it will change once regular lunar and Mars missions are in full swing.
They concluded that the Moon could need around 400 tons per month, and Mars around 50,000 tons every two years - that’s a lot of cargo!
This article starts to look at solutions to the problem of how to supply so much of the payload for all the spacecraft.
One issue which hampers volume production of this for space is the use of clean rooms in the manufacturing process.
Let's Revisit Clean Rooms
Traditionally, spacecraft assembly occurs in clean rooms to prevent contamination. However, this slows down production due to stringent environmental controls.
However, for general payload like building material, machinery, tools, and general equipment, are these still really needed?
To get the required amount of payload ready in time, these rules need to be softened.
Clean rooms are crucial in satellite manufacturing, acting like sterile sanctuaries where the air is so well filtered that even the tiniest speck of dust is unwelcome. Think of it as the ultimate spa for spacecraft, where every element from the air to the attire of the workers is controlled to keep things pristine.
This isn't just about keeping things shiny; it's considered vital for ensuring that satellites can function flawlessly in the harsh vacuum of space where there's no room for repair.
Even SpaceX, known for doing things differently, recognizes the importance of these environments for their delicate satellite components. They might not use clean rooms in the traditional sense across all their operations, but when it comes to precision parts, they're all in for maintaining that cleanliness to avoid any performance hiccups.
Historically, the aerospace industry learned the hard way that cleanliness in manufacturing can mean the difference between a successful mission and a costly failure. While there's no one study directly comparing satellites built in clean versus dirty environments, the consensus is clear: clean rooms are accepted as the standard needed when building things for space.
Will we ever see spaceships and satellites built or repaired in dusty hangars like in the movies - unlikely. Could the rules be loosened a little - it may need to be.
Perhaps, given the amount of payload and the types of things that will be taken to space in the near future, a more detailed study of this issue is required, focusing on when a clean room is needed and when it's not.
And Then There Are People!
People are also starting to travel to space in larger numbers. Some will go to space stations, many to the Moon and Mars.
People are essentially very large carriers of all kinds of organisms. Pretty much anything a person uses would largely defeat the purpose of clean rooms.
Where people will interact with objects, maybe clean rather than clean room will be ok.
It is still important to build things clean, but are clean rooms more than what is needed?
Next . . .
Part 4 will discuss how more 3rd party manufactures can be included in providing all this needed payload.