Space Forge Secures $30M to Revolutionize Chip Manufacturing in Orbit

Space Forge, a U.K.-based startup, has raised a significant £22.6 million (approximately $30 million) in Series A funding to pioneer the manufacturing of advanced wafer materials in space. This innovative approach leverages the unique conditions of space to create materials with fewer defects and enhanced performance, crucial for next-generation technologies.

Traditional silicon-based semiconductors are approaching their performance limits, driving the need for new materials. Space Forge aims to address this by manufacturing crystals and advanced semiconductor materials in orbit, where weightlessness and other unique properties lead to fewer defects and improved energy efficiency. This could significantly reduce the power consumption of critical systems, such as 5G towers, as demonstrated in a project with BT (formerly British Telecom) (Space Forge Project Details).

According to Space Forge CEO Joshua Western, the concept of manufacturing in space isn’t new, with research dating back to the 1970s (Skylab Experiment). He emphasized that their work builds upon decades of research, focusing on producing crystals and semiconductors with superior quality for applications in quantum computing, defense systems, and more.

The Series A round was led by the NATO Innovation Fund, highlighting the strategic importance of Space Forge’s technology for defense and security. Major U.S. defense contractor Northrop Grumman is also a partner, underscoring the dual-use potential of these advanced materials (Northrop Grumman Partnership).

Space Forge is focusing on solving the challenges of returning materials from space. Instead of traditional capsules, they employ a unique approach nicknamed “Mary Poppins from space,” using a space-grade umbrella-like structure to gently return materials to Earth.

The company has developed technologies like Pridwen, a heat shield, and Fielder, a floating net for soft landings on water, supported by the U.K. Space Agency and European Space Agency (Space Forge Re-entry Tech). To establish a European return infrastructure, Space Forge recently opened an office in Portugal on the island of Santa Maria in the Azores (Space Forge Portugal Office), positioning itself to serve mainland Europe effectively.

Space Forge aims to reduce reliance on semiconductors from regions like Taiwan amid growing concerns in Europe. World Fund, a climate tech VC firm and investor in Space Forge, supports the company’s vision of a sustainable, homegrown supply of next-generation materials (World Fund Investment). The company positions itself as a potential “carbon negative technology.”

Despite an initial setback with Virgin Orbit’s failed launch in 2023, Space Forge is moving forward. They are accelerating the development of their latest spacecraft and preparing for the launch of the ForgeStar-1 demonstrator later this year, aptly named “The Forge Awakens.”