Space Forge Fires 1,000°C Furnace in Orbit for Semiconductors

• Space Forge has activated a microwave-sized ‘factory’ in low Earth orbit and run its furnace to about 1,000°C, producing glowing plasma images beamed back to mission control in Cardiff.
• The company says in-space conditions can yield semiconductors up to 4,000× purer than Earth-made equivalents, improving electronics from 5G towers to EV chargers.
• The demonstrator launched on a SpaceX rocket; next steps include scaling production, testing a heat shield called Pridwen for reentry, and returning material to Earth.

Overview

Space Forge, a Cardiff-based startup, has sent a microwave-sized manufacturing satellite into orbit and demonstrated its core capability: a furnace that reaches roughly 1,000°C. The on-board furnace produced visible plasma that the team monitored from mission control.

What the test showed

The satellite launched on a SpaceX rocket earlier this year. Since deployment, engineers have switched the furnace on and recorded images of glowing plasma at about 1,000°C.

Veronica Viera, the company’s payload operations lead, described seeing those images as “one of the most exciting moments of my life.” The photograph confirms the furnace can produce the high temperatures needed for Space Forge’s manufacturing process.

Why space improves semiconductors

Space Forge argues that microgravity and vacuum make a more orderly atomic lattice with far fewer contaminants. CEO Josh Western said the approach could produce semiconductors “up to 4,000 times purer” than current Earth-based methods.

Purer, more-ordered semiconductor crystals can improve performance in communications infrastructure, computing, transport and other electronics where material quality matters.

Scaling and return-to-Earth plans

The company plans a larger factory that could make material sufficient for about 10,000 chips. A critical next phase is validating safe return of manufactured material to the ground.

Space Forge will test a heat shield called Pridwen — named after King Arthur’s legendary shield — to protect the payload during atmospheric reentry. Successful reentry and recovery are essential to deliver finished semiconductor material for commercial use.

Context and industry outlook

Other startups and research groups are pursuing in-space manufacturing for pharmaceuticals, tissues and advanced materials. Libby Jackson, head of space at the Science Museum, noted that proving technology at small scale is the first step toward economically viable products returned to Earth.

Space Forge’s demonstration marks a practical milestone: an operational furnace in orbit, telemetry and imagery from plasma, and a road map toward scaling and reentry. The wider industry will watch as the team tests Pridwen and moves from demonstration to production.