Breakthrough in Space Semiconductor Manufacturing by Cardiff Startup
Microgravity enables semiconductors up to 4,000 times purer, targeting gallium nitride, silicon carbide, aluminium nitride, and diamond.
ForgeStar-1 launched in June on SpaceX rideshare, tested from Cardiff, with plasma at 1,000°C.
CEO Joshua Western says this opens a new manufacturing frontier.
Plans include testing plasma behavior, building a larger factory for 10,000 chips, and testing Pridwen heat shield.
Materials could supply components for 5G towers, EV chargers, and modern aircraft.
Space Forge will combine orbital and terrestrial scaling at Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials, following Varda Space and ETH Zurich.
2 weeks ago