UK orbital factory tests key furnace conditions to make next‑gen chips

The Cardiff-based startup Space Forge has successfully tested a high-temperature furnace aboard its ForgeStar-1 satellite, marking a significant advancement in space manufacturing. The compact "orbital factory" reached temperatures of 1,832°F (1,000°C), enabling the production of ultra-pure semiconductor crystals for use in electronics such as communications, computing, and transportation. Utilizing the microgravity environment of space, Space Forge aims to create semiconductor materials up to 4,000 times purer than those made on Earth, as the absence of gravity and molecular contaminants allows atoms to align with exceptional precision. While the technology is still in its early stages, the mission demonstrated the core capability for in-space manufacturing, including successfully generating plasma within the furnace. A major challenge remains in safely returning the manufactured materials to Earth without damage during re-entry. To address this, Space Forge is developing an innovative deployable heat shield called Pridwen, designed to radiate heat away rather than absorb it, unlike traditional shields. The