Space Forge plasma in space

Plasma generated in Space Forge’s ForgeStar-1 satellite, a first for commercial in-space manufacturing. The plasma demonstration confirmed that the extreme conditions needed for gas-phase crystal growth – a core building block of semiconductor production – can now be created and controlled on an autonomous platform in low Earth orbit. This is the first time a commercial spacecraft demonstrated this capability – building on science carried out on board  the International Space Station.

Space Forge, based in the UK, worked with partners to develop ForgeStar – a reusable suitcase-sized vehicle that can be lofted to space and which will return to Earth after an extended stay in low Earth orbit. ESA supported this project through a two-year contract worth two million euros within its Boost! programme. This covered the preliminary and detailed design phases, as well as the launch, in-orbit operation and return of the first operational ForgeStar demonstration vehicle.