Space Forge generates plasma aboard its satellite
The plasma demonstration confirms 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 (LEO).
Space Forge has successfully generated plasma aboard its ForgeStar-1 satellite, marking a key step toward producing a new class of high-performance semiconductor materials on orbit, the company said.
The plasma demonstration confirms 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 (LEO). This is the first time a commercial spacecraft has demonstrated this capability, Space Forge said.
“Generating plasma on orbit represents a fundamental shift, it proves that the essential environment for advanced crystal growth can be achieved on a dedicated, commercial satellite — opening the door to a completely new manufacturing frontier,” said Joshua Western, CEO and Co-founder, Space Forge.
The absence of convection in microgravity, the ultra-high quality vacuum with near-zero nitrogen contamination and the stable thermal conditions can enable semiconductor crystals several orders of magnitude cleaner than those produced terrestrially.
ForgeStar-1’s plasma strike is the first step in testing how those advantages translate into real materials performance. The satellite will run a series of parameter sweeps to map plasma behaviour in microgravity and collect data that will directly inform the design and operation of future missions, the company said.
Space Forge Limited, trading as Space Forge, is a company registered in England and Wales. Space Forge Inc. is a US company headquarted in Florida, incorporated in Delaware.