Rhea Dharia, a 21-year-old senior at Northeastern University, worked on a significant summer co-op assignment with Besxar Space Industries, a startup focused on semiconductor production in space. Her role involved designing a canister to transport equipment for creating microchip materials using silica sand and trace elements, which would benefit from the vacuum of space to eliminate impurities.
The project required careful planning to ensure that the canister could withstand the launch’s vibrations and shocks. Dharia contributed to writing test plans and preparing for the launch of their “fabships,” reusable canisters that hold the semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
Under the guidance of her boss, mechanical engineer Sabrina Atkin, Dharia’s enthusiasm and eagerness to learn stood out. The innovative process of creating semiconductors in space is still a secretive venture, but it promises to make chips cheaper and of higher quality.
The culmination of Dharia’s work was a successful SpaceX launch on July 5, where the canister, exposed to extreme temperatures during re-entry, survived intact, demonstrating the potential for off-planet manufacturing. Dharia expressed that her experience boosted her confidence and fueled her aspirations in aerospace engineering, emphasizing that “manufacturing in space is the future of chip making.”
The ongoing expansion of commercial space missions suggests that the costs of such innovations will decrease, making quality electronics more accessible. Dharia’s journey at Northeastern has also played a pivotal role in her personal growth and confidence, which she credits to the university’s co-op program and supportive academic environment.
