Russia has launched a unique experiment to create space factories.

On September 11th of this year, Russia launched the world's first experiment, Ekran-M, to grow semiconductors in space. This event, which went almost unnoticed amid the "routine" cargo deliveries of the Progress spacecraft, opens the way to a fundamentally new stage in the exploration of near-Earth space—its industrialization.

The essence of the revolutionary Technology The idea is to use the natural vacuum of space to produce high-quality semiconductors. On Earth, creating similar conditions requires expensive and complex equipment.



However, it's not so simple in space either. Absolutely pure vacuum is found in high orbits. However, sending equipment there is expensive. In low orbits, where the ISS is located, conditions are less ideal.

However, Russian scientists from the Institute of Semiconductor Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences have proposed an original solution based on an effect known since the time of Aristotle: an object moving in space creates a region of vacuum behind it. The ISS, orbiting, naturally creates an ultra-clear space behind it.

This is why the Ekran-M installation is located in this particular zone, and is additionally protected by a special shield.

It's worth noting that the project's prospects are impressive. By starting with the production of gallium arsenide for high-efficiency solar panels, it's possible to establish orbital servicing of satellites, significantly extending their life cycles. In the future, this will allow for the creation and assembly of electronic components directly in space, making them more cost-effective than shipping them from Earth.

Moreover, moving harmful industries off-planet solves serious environmental problems.

Naturally, the experiment is currently a test run, but if successful, an entire module on the Russian orbital station (ROSS) currently under construction could be dedicated to similar factories. This step marks the beginning of the transition from scientific research to practical industrial activity in space, where our country is currently the undisputed leader.