Exploring the Unknown - NASA's History Office

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1. Identify Products
• Space Benefits
• Economic Potential
2. Proof of Concept
• Verify Benefits
• Design Data Base
3. Apparatus Development
• Processor Design
• Processor Demonstration
4. Pilot Plant Development
• Systems Design
• Operational Demonstration
5. Commercial Operations
• Plant Fabrication
• Orbital Operations
• Marketing
Figure 23. Recommended roles
Recommendations—The recommendations, in the form of an implementation plan
for the commercial space manufacturing of silicon ribbon, recognize the need for NASA
sponsorship along with the need to get commercial industry involved. Without early
involvement, industry will not have a data base for the subsequent commercial operations
investment decision. Specific recommendations, supported by the results of a crystal manufacturer’s
survey conducted as part of the NASA study, are given in Figure 23. The message
is that the government should sponsor space processing activities through pilot plant
demonstrations, to decrease the implementation risk to a level commensurate with private
venture capital commitment. The government in selecting processes for development can
both stimulate economic growth and find solutions to problems of national concern such
as the possible application of silicon ribbon in manufacturing solar cells for a solar power
station. Without [19] this sponsorship it is possible that the potential economic benefits
of space manufacturing may not be fully realized.
The milestone schedule shown in Figure 24 identifies the major activities necessary to
the implementation of space manufacturing of silicon ribbon. Included is a recommendation
for sponsorship of the activity and identification of the group or organization that
should take the initiative for any action. Immediate action toward technical development
is necessary if space manufacturing is to become a reality by the 1985 target.
[20] REFERENCES
1. Witt, A. F., M562 Indium Antimonide Crystals, proc. Third Space Processing
Symposium, Skylab Results, April 30–May 1, 1974, Huntsville, Ala.
2. Walter, H. U., M560 Growth of Spherical Crystals, proc. Third Space Processing
Symposium, Skylab Results, April 30–May 1, 1974, Huntsville, Ala.
3. Business Week, February 16, 1976.
SPACE AS AN INVESTMENT IN ECONOMIC GROWTH
Activity NASA Industry
Sponsor Systems Studies
Sponsor Ground, Sounding Rocket
Research and Development
Sponsor Shuttle Demonstrations
Sponsor Demonstration
(Aerospace Plant Design, Fabrication)
Operate Space Transportation System
Consultants
Consultants
Experimenters
Design Review
Product Experimentation
Design Review
Operations Control
Characterize Product
Test Market
Venture Capital & Control
(Aerospace Plant Fabrication)
Manufacturing Operations
Marketing
Commercial Carriage