Hacker News Reader

You'd need to bring the metal up before anyway, in that case. It doesn't really solve the major problem.

It would be easier to build them on earth still.

Oh, but it does. Parts and components usually aren't very space-efficient, specially when shipped together with other parts. Look at any toolbox, there is a lot of wasted empty space.

Instead, you'd ship a lump of whatever material is required by your printer, and manufacture whatever is needed, on demand.

It's more compact and more versatile, what's not to like? Weight is at a premium when you are talking about payloads, but so is space.

You could also, in theory, use the non-fuel part of the rocket stage that brought you up for building material. Some people have actually proposed using empty fuel tanks for living space but this would be better.

Recycled space junk! :)

Reply on news.ycombinator.com