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International Business Times
International Business Times
Business

UNCOVERED: The space economy is creating a supply chain for factories in orbit - Caught on Camera

Space startups secured a record $20.8 billion in funding in the third quarter of 2026. (Credit: Getty Images)

The space industry is a billion-dollar business and putting equipment into orbit is just a part of it. The most difficult part starts after launch: running a factory, material supply, equipment maintenance and delivering finished products to customers.

The commercial opportunity extends beyond manufacturing products in space to build supply chains, maintenance services and delivery systems, which are needed to make orbital factories commercially viable as companies look to use microgravity to produce pharmaceuticals and advanced materials.

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