Technological sovereignty is today a direct synonym for national security. In the modern world, a nation's ability to independently design, produce, and secure key technologies defines its strength, resilience, and independence. The story of the United States' technological sovereignty is largely intertwined with the development of semiconductor technologies. Spurred by the urgency of the Cold War and the "space race," American investments led to the invention of the integrated circuit (IC) and CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) technology in the late 1950s and early 1960s. This laid the foundation for low-power, high-density electronics. What followed was nothing less than the transformation of the entire society—from the first mainframe computers to today's advanced defense systems, cybersecurity infrastructure, healthcare, and biotechnology, every sector that protects, sustains, and enhances human life now relies on the power of computing.

As the world moves toward an era that transcends the limitations of traditional CMOS technology, manufacturing in microgravity is emerging as a key driver for new computing paradigms. These include quantum computing, which harnesses the principles of quantum mechanics, and neuromorphic computing, which mimics the structure and function of the human brain. To advance on this new frontier, the United States must once again take the lead. This time, the next great leap is happening beyond the confines of Earth.

The Roots of the Digital Revolution: From Transistors to the Moon

Semiconductors first emerged in the U.S. as a critical national security asset. In 1947, in the clean rooms of Bell Labs, William Shockley, along with John Bardeen and Walter Brattain, invented the transistor, a tiny component that would replace bulky and unreliable vacuum tubes. This invention was just the beginning. A decade later, American pioneers like Jack Kilby of Texas Instruments and Robert Noyce of Fairchild Semiconductor independently developed the integrated circuit, placing multiple transistors on a single wafer of semiconductor material, most commonly silicon. This enabled the radical miniaturization of computers and laid the groundwork for technological superiority over geopolitical rivals. These inventions not only revolutionized electronics but created the entire modern semiconductor industry, launching what we now know as the digital age.

By 1969, the Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC), the computer that safely landed humans on the Moon, became one of the first major examples of using integrated circuits in a mission-critical system. At the time, the AGC was a marvel of engineering. Although by today's standards its processing power was modest, comparable to the first generation of home computers from the late 1970s, for its time it represented the pinnacle of engineering. It was the success of the Apollo mission that demonstrated the reliability and potential of IC technology, after which it rapidly transitioned from exclusively defense and aerospace to commercial applications—from large mainframe computers, through pocket calculators to early digital systems. From powering Apollo to enabling advanced communication and imaging systems, semiconductor technology has driven nearly every leap in science and security. This success was not accidental; it was the result of a cohesive national vision that united industry, academia, and government around a common goal—innovation for security and prosperity.

Reaching the Limits: Why is Earth No Longer Enough?

Over the past six decades, this commitment to innovation has kept the U.S. at the forefront of developing key technologies. However, the landscape of technological leadership is changing. The manufacturing of integrated circuits on Earth is approaching its fundamental physical and economic limits. The famous Moore's Law, which predicts the doubling of the number of transistors on a chip every two years, is slowing down. Engineers are facing problems like quantum tunneling, where electrons "pass through" barriers that should stop them, and excessive heat generation on ever smaller and denser chips. At the same time, the demand for more powerful, energy-efficient, and specialized chips, such as radiation-hardened ones for military and space applications, is growing exponentially. To maintain its edge, the United States must embrace a frontier it already helped establish: semiconductor research and development in space.

Microgravity as a New Paradigm: Manufacturing in Low Earth Orbit

The microgravity conditions in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) offer a radically different environment for semiconductor research and development. The reduced gravitational forces, which cause convection and sedimentation on Earth, are almost non-existent in space. This allows for far more uniform crystal growth, resulting in semiconductor crystals with dramatically lower defect densities and unique atomic arrangements. Quantum materials behave in new ways, enabling the creation of architectures that are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to replicate on Earth. Scientists have been studying these effects since the 1980s, and by the early 2000s, structured semiconductor research was already being conducted on Space Shuttle missions and later on the International Space Station (ISS).

The ISS National Laboratory: A Forge for Future Technologies

Since its inception, the International Space Station (ISS) has become a crucial platform for advancing next-generation computing materials, including semiconductors. In 2011, the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS®) was established to manage the U.S. National Laboratory on the ISS, with an explicit vision to advance research and development in areas that serve both commercial and national interests. With the support of NASA, CASIS has enabled researchers from government agencies, academia, and industry to explore the impact of microgravity on crystal growth, thin-film deposition, and the properties of quantum entanglement. This effort goes beyond mere scientific inquiry; it directly supports economic competitiveness and national resilience. Our most advanced systems, autonomous platforms, secure communications, and next-generation sensors depend on the performance and precision of microelectronics. As in-space manufacturing capabilities evolve worldwide, the U.S. plays a critical role in advancing innovation in materials and devices.

The New Space Race: A Geopolitical Imperative for Innovation

Just as the launch of Sputnik in 1957 catalyzed the U.S. to reach the Moon in 1969, today's global shifts must spur a new "space race." This time, the goal is not just to explore space, but to manufacture the future within it. Nations like China have identified in-space semiconductor manufacturing as a strategic priority and are rapidly advancing in this area, building their own space station and conducting relevant experiments. In this competition, the U.S. is helping to shape the future of in-space semiconductor manufacturing by fostering innovation through strategic investments and research. Continuing this momentum will be crucial for long-term leadership in the field. This includes a coordinated national effort to invest in orbital R&D infrastructure, support public-private partnerships, and sustain platforms like the ISS and its successors.

America's Strategic Response: From the CHIPS Act to Orbit

Looking ahead to the next 50 years, space-manufactured semiconductors will likely play a crucial role in national security. The good news is that we are not starting from scratch. Programs through NASA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the recent CHIPS and Science Act are laying the groundwork for commercial and national applications of in-space manufacturing. The CHIPS Act, worth hundreds of billions of dollars, is designed to revitalize domestic chip production and foster fundamental research. These initiatives must be expanded and accelerated. We must treat microgravity not just as a research environment, but as an extension of the innovation ecosystem that has always set the U.S. apart. The United States possesses the scientific depth, commercial infrastructure, and historical momentum to once again take the lead. What is needed now is sustained focus and strategic coordination. The cost of delay is not just a missed opportunity; it will be a dangerous vulnerability.

Just as we could not have predicted in 1969 that the same integrated circuits used in the Apollo Guidance Computer would one day power every phone, car, and satellite, we cannot fully predict today the impact of microgravity-enabled semiconductors. As inventor William Shockley once famously said: "We knew we were holding a new world by the tail." Today, with breakthroughs in in-space manufacturing and post-CMOS computing on the horizon, we are once again holding a new world by the tail. The people shaping the foundations for computing technologies and in-space manufacturing today will shape the future of our global security and prosperity. It is time to take leadership in space-based semiconductor manufacturing with the same spirit and determination as in 1969.

Source: ISS National Laboratory