Space Forge, a Cardiff-based company, has made a significant advancement in the UK space and materials science sectors. The company has shipped ForgeStar-1, the UK’s first In-Space Advanced Manufacturing (ISAM) mission, to the United States ahead of its planned launch later this year. Manufactured in Wales, ForgeStar-1 represents a crucial step for the UK as it seeks to lead in the emerging field of space-based manufacturing.
Space Forge aims to use the unique conditions of space — including microgravity, extreme temperatures, and a vacuum environment — to create materials that are impossible to produce on Earth. These materials could revolutionize industries like semiconductors, quantum computing, clean energy, and defence. Research suggests that manufacturing such materials in space could reduce CO2 emissions by up to 75% in high-value infrastructure, contributing to innovations in security, defence, and climate action.
In addition to testing material production, ForgeStar-1 will also demonstrate the functionality of Space Forge’s Pridwen shield. This heat shield is designed to ensure safe, reusable satellite re-entries, marking another key milestone for the company. The launch follows Space Forge becoming the first company to receive a UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) licence for ISAM, further establishing its leadership in the sector.
ForgeStar-1 will provide the first proof that high-performance semiconductor materials can be manufactured in space and safely returned to Earth, paving the way for future commercial manufacturing in orbit.
A Major Step for Space Manufacturing
Joshua Western, CEO and co-founder of Space Forge, emphasized the importance of the mission, stating, “This is the moment we have been working towards. This upcoming in-orbit mission is more than just a test flight – it is a critical step toward building an entire infrastructure that can support us back on Earth with space-made materials. With this mission laying the groundwork, the next step is full-speed ahead for commercial manufacturing — returning materials that will transform entire industries.”
Rebecca Evans, the Welsh government’s cabinet secretary for economy, energy, and planning, praised Space Forge’s achievements, noting, “Space Forge is a real space success story, providing more than 70 highly skilled technical roles and supporting another 1,000 in the immediate supply chain. We are delighted to support the company in realizing its enormous potential. It was fascinating to see the ongoing work at Space Forge recently, and I wish them the best of luck for the launch of ForgeStar-1.”
Space Forge’s upcoming mission represents not only a significant achievement for the company but also a key moment for the UK as it takes a leading role in the next frontier of space-based manufacturing.
