Man's capability to leave the Earth offers many new prospects for the future.  Asteroid mining, building launch facilities on the moon, tourism, and space manufacturing are only some of the many opportunities that are being considered.

There are many considerations which must be  examined .  For example, in the case of manufacturing in space,  economic factors include : can it be done on Earth ? If so, which offers a most cost effective venue?; environmental factors include both contamination of the plant and whatever pollutants may be generated in the manufacturing process.  Let us examine some of the advantages and disadvantages of this enterprise.