First UK licence for in-space advanced manufacturing
Summary
This mission is the company’s next step towards establishing a scalable, returnable, and re-launchable platform for manufacturing high-performance semiconductor materials in space. These advancements have wide-reaching applications in semiconductors, quantum computing, clean energy, and defence technologies. Research suggests that manufacturing these materials in space could reduce CO2 emissions by 75% in high-value infrastructure – delivering breakthroughs in security, defence, and climate-focused innovation. “Developing technologies that would be otherwise impossible to manufacture on Earth, in orbit, demonstrates how space will play a vital role in boosting economic growth and propelling forward our Plan for Change.” Joshua Western, CEO and Co-Founder of Space Forge, commented: “This licence award is a key mission milestone and we’re looking forward to demonstrating how our scalable, reusable manufacturing platform can drive progress and benefits for us on Earth. Space Forge is breaking new ground being the first UK company to achieve a licence for in-orbit manufacturing.” The ForgeStar-1 mission will validate the ForgeStar platform’s capability to deliver high-value materials from space while demonstrating key technologies essential for the future of in-orbit manufacturing.