A Cardiff-based company, founded by “two blokes in a garage,” is on the verge of launching a revolutionary space factory that could herald a new industrial age.
Space Forge is set to send its prototype manufacturing satellite, ForgeStar-1, from an industrial park in Cardiff to the United States, where it will be launched into orbit via a SpaceX rocket in the coming weeks.
Sky News secured exclusive permission to explore the company’s “clean room,” where engineers were seen conducting final checks on the satellite, which is loaded with the raw materials needed to produce a new generation of highly efficient semiconductor chips – a production process deemed impossible on Earth.
Founder Joshua Western remarked, “This represents the next industrial revolution, but in space, not on Earth.” Semiconductors are integral to nearly all electronic devices, currently made from silicon crystals, but face limitations in performance. In the vacuum and microgravity of space, however, crystals can be crafted from novel compounds, leading to computer chips that operate faster and consume less power. Western stated, “We can cut energy consumption by over 50% for where they are deployed,” implying substantial economical and environmental benefits.
The satellite’s mission includes testing the process of manufacturing these advanced materials and has been granted the first in-orbit advanced manufacturing license by the Civil Aviation Authority. Should the mission succeed, the next phase will commence production of these valuable crystals, which could be more than £45m per kilogram in value, exceeding the cost of launching them.
To retrieve this high-value cargo safely, the company developed a lightweight heat shield called Pridwen, named after King Arthur’s shield, which unfurls akin to an umbrella to protect the satellite upon re-entry, ensuring a gentle descent into the ocean for recovery.
Dajda Nafeesa, the chief of missions at the UK’s Satellite Applications Catapult, which supports space start-ups, believes that the potential extends far beyond semiconductor chips to include stronger metal alloys and potent cancer drugs. Britain is positioned to lead in this arena, with the space industry poised to contribute approximately £20bn to the UK economy over the next decade.
As the Twitter account of Savannah Clayinga shared this content, she hinted at a potential world where making things in space could become as commonplace as having internet.
Source: https://news.sky.com/story/satellite-space-factory-could-create-advanced-tech-that-slashes-billions-of-pounds-from-energy-bills-13345727
