Axiom Space to Trial Chipmaking Materials Production on ISS!

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Axiom Space pitches idea to produce chipmaking materials in space, plans trials aboard ISS

Axiom Space, a pioneer in space missions headquartered in the United States, is the only commercial firm with modules linked to the International Space Station. As reported by Focus Taiwan, Axiom recently approached Taiwan with a captivating proposal to manufacture specific semiconductor materials in space. The company is exploring the advantages of the low-Earth orbit (LEO) environment to potentially create ultra-pure materials.

Dr. Koichi Wakata, the Asia-Pacific Chief Technology Officer at Axiom Space and a former ISS commander from Japan, highlighted the benefits of microgravity and the vacuum of space for semiconductor production. According to him, these conditions promote the growth of flawless crystals, thereby producing superior materials that are challenging to replicate on Earth due to the influence of gravity and atmospheric contaminants.

Divya Panchanathan, Axiom’s global head of semiconductor commercialization, further explained that gravity on Earth introduces flaws in crystal structures, whereas microgravity in LEO supports more consistent growth. The vacuum of space also allows for containerless processing, which reduces contamination risks and supports the creation of larger, more effective crystals for semiconductors.

Axiom has proposed a partnership with Taiwanese firms to begin experimental phases aboard the ISS, with an aim to shift production to Axiom’s own commercial space station post-2030. The company envisions a scalable approach where successful experiments could lead to extensive production in specialized space modules.

While Axiom executives did not specify the crystals, it is presumed they are referring to single-crystal materials such as silicon, gallium nitride, and gallium arsenide. These materials serve as the foundational substrates for semiconductor manufacturing. Next-generation materials like compound semiconductors (e.g., GaN, GaAs) are particularly sensitive to impurities and defects that gravity and environmental factors on Earth can introduce. In a microgravity setting, the melt and any dopants are likely to distribute more evenly, potentially resulting in higher-quality wafers.

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However, the practicality of manufacturing anything in space involves significant challenges. The costs of launching materials into space and maintaining an orbital facility are prohibitively high. Currently, it costs about $3,000 to send a kilogram into space (a single silicon wafer weighs between 100 to 150 grams and costs between $100 and $200), but prices might drop to $2,000 per kilogram with advancements like the Falcon Heavy. Despite potentially superior quality, the cost of off-planet production may not justify the benefits at the moment. Over the years, manufacturers have refined crystal growth techniques on Earth, achieving a satisfactory balance between quality and cost. Thus, for the time being, producing wafers in low-Earth orbit appears impractical.

In the future, as the microelectronics sector advances to sub-angstrom process technologies, there might be a stronger case for producing ultra-pure wafers in low-Earth orbit. However, companies involved in the production of silicon, GaN, or GaAs ingots, along with their suppliers, would need to develop suitable technologies. Even then, it’s more feasible that the wafers would still be produced on Earth, albeit in specially modified environments.

Axiom also noted that industries other than semiconductors might benefit from space-based manufacturing. These include biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and even the 3D printing of artificial organs.

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