Products

http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/space/teachers/microgravity/fmicro.html
Crystal growth on Earth (bottom) and in space (top)

http://mgnews.msfc.nasa.gov/litho2/material.html
Crystal growth, on earth (bottom) during free fall (top)

NASA spends lots of money every year both attracting interest in manufacturing in space and in developing ideas which utilize the unique advantages offered by off planet locations. Two examples of crystal growth are shown above.  Economic uses of such include the manufacture of semi conductors.  Other products which may be developed by the lack of density gradation of materials are superconductors.

Manufacturing in Space | Advantages | Disadvantages | Products | Science  | Links and References

Kim Phillips
Physics 212
Dr. David Newman