China races US to launch space factories for in-orbit mass production

Chinese scientists have successfully completed ground tests of an innovative inflatable and reconfigurable space station module designed for large-scale industrial production in orbit. This module can be launched in a compact, folded state and then inflated in space to create a cylindrical factory platform over two meters in diameter. The design overcomes traditional launch constraints by reducing volume during launch, enabling cost-effective deployment of sizable manufacturing habitats. The module’s airtight connection between rigid and flexible components and its stable microgravity deployment environment make it suitable for high-precision manufacturing, including biopharmaceutical production and novel material creation. This development aligns with China’s broader ambitions to become a global leader in space, especially as the US faces delays in its Artemis lunar landing program and Starship lunar lander testing. The emergence of orbital factories represents a new frontier in space technology, with US companies like Varda Space Industries and Astroforge also pursuing space-based manufacturing and resource extraction to address Earth’s resource limitations. However, China’s progress in inflatable space modules and space manufacturing