What would be the approaches to providing future Luna or Martian settlements with the ability to fabricate their own chips?
I recognize the current semiconductor supply chain is insanely complex - from materials to logistics, technology, etc.. But I think for humanity to be able to survive off planet - we're going to eventually need to be able to create ICs "from scratch" on other worlds.
Would we do this in stages -- export manufacturing machines, and raw materials, etc? and try to build up industries around this to support manufacturing at the destination?
Would it be a "retro chip" approach -- start with manufacturing machines such as those being designed/built in companies like "Atomic Semi", which should in theory reduce the requirements for fabrication substantially (i.e. older/relaxed nodes, smaller equipment, less unique chemicals/materials). These won't produce leading edge chips, but I don't think you need even 28nm (or below) to have a surviving civilization, even on a different world.
Is there another "3D printing" style approach to making ICs that might be more viable? Something non-silicon even?
There is a real possibility of building some kind of settlement on Mars this century, so I was curious what people thought about how it would be possible to make locally sustainable semiconductor manufacturing part of that settlement.
Exhibit: SpaceX notional roadmap for Mars colonization.
I recognize the current semiconductor supply chain is insanely complex - from materials to logistics, technology, etc.. But I think for humanity to be able to survive off planet - we're going to eventually need to be able to create ICs "from scratch" on other worlds.
Would we do this in stages -- export manufacturing machines, and raw materials, etc? and try to build up industries around this to support manufacturing at the destination?
Would it be a "retro chip" approach -- start with manufacturing machines such as those being designed/built in companies like "Atomic Semi", which should in theory reduce the requirements for fabrication substantially (i.e. older/relaxed nodes, smaller equipment, less unique chemicals/materials). These won't produce leading edge chips, but I don't think you need even 28nm (or below) to have a surviving civilization, even on a different world.
Is there another "3D printing" style approach to making ICs that might be more viable? Something non-silicon even?
There is a real possibility of building some kind of settlement on Mars this century, so I was curious what people thought about how it would be possible to make locally sustainable semiconductor manufacturing part of that settlement.
Exhibit: SpaceX notional roadmap for Mars colonization.