Mission Events
On December 31, 2025, Space Forge confirmed its ForgeStar-1 satellite successfully generated plasma in low Earth orbit — the first commercial free-flying orbital plasma generation ever achieved outside the ISS. The miniature manufacturing furnace reached temperatures above 1,000°C in microwave-induced plasma, validating conditions for gas-phase crystal growth of wide-bandgap semiconductors (GaN, SiC, AlN, diamond). ForgeStar-1 launched June 2025 on SpaceX Transporter-14 and operates at ~540km LEO. The Pridwen heat shield onboard will also test controlled demise technology. The satellite is not designed to return materials to Earth — that capability is planned for ForgeStar-2.
Space Forge successfully generated plasma aboard its ForgeStar-1 in-space manufacturing satellite — claimed as the first commercial semiconductor manufacturing tool operated in orbit.
UK in-space manufacturing startup Space Forge successfully ignited its miniature furnace and generated plasma at ~1,000°C aboard ForgeStar-1 — the first commercial semiconductor manufacturing tool operated in orbit.