Made in Britain, Manufactured in Space
A British company has just achieved something no one else in the world has managed before — switching on the first commercial semiconductor manufacturing system in space.
Space Forge, a startup founded in Cardiff, has successfully fired up a high-temperature manufacturing furnace aboard its ForgeStar-1 satellite in low Earth orbit. It marks a major moment not just for the company, but for the UK’s growing role in advanced space technology.
The satellite’s onboard system reached temperatures of around 1,000°C, proving that complex industrial processes can now be carried out in orbit without relying on the International Space Station. For the first time, space manufacturing has moved from theory to commercial reality — and Britain is leading the way.
Why space manufacturing matters
Producing semiconductors in space offers unique advantages that are impossible to replicate on Earth. Microgravity, ultra-clean vacuum conditions and highly stable temperatures allow crystals to form more perfectly, creating materials with fewer defects and far better performance.
Space Forge says these space-made materials could dramatically improve efficiency in electronics, with the potential to cut energy use in chips by up to 60 per cent. That could have huge benefits for everything from mobile phones and data centres to electric vehicles and renewable energy systems.
A big win for the UK
What makes this breakthrough especially positive is its strong British connection. Space Forge’s technology was designed, built and licensed in the UK, making ForgeStar-1 the first UK-approved satellite dedicated to in-space manufacturing. The company has also secured record-breaking private investment, underlining confidence in Britain’s ability to compete in high-value global industries.
This success supports the UK’s ambition to strengthen its semiconductor capability at a time when supply chains are under pressure worldwide. It also helps create high-skilled jobs in engineering, materials science and aerospace, particularly in Wales and the wider UK space sector.
What comes next
ForgeStar-1 itself is a demonstration mission and will burn up safely on re-entry, but the real prize lies ahead. Space Forge is already developing ForgeStar-2, a returnable satellite designed to bring space-manufactured materials back to Earth for commercial use.
If successful, it could open the door to a whole new British-led industry — one where cutting-edge materials are made in orbit and used here at home. For UK innovation, it’s a bold step forward and a powerful reminder that Britain is still capable of world-firsts.
