The team from Space Forge in Cardiff, Wales, has made a significant step towards creating the first orbital factory for semiconductor production. During an experiment reported by the BBC, the company successfully activated its microwave-sized oven in orbit, heating it to 1000°C. This is a critical phase in testing space manufacturing technology.
«This is incredibly important because it is one of the essential components we need for the manufacturing process in space. So the ability to demonstrate it is amazing,» said Payload Operations Manager Veronica Vera in an interview with the BBC.
On Earth, semiconductor creation is an expensive and labor-intensive process. Space offers unique advantages. Microgravity allows atoms in the crystal lattice to align perfectly, and the absence of an atmosphere minimizes the risk of plate contamination.
«The work we are doing now allows us to create semiconductors in space with purity 4000 times greater than what we can produce here today. Such semiconductors will be used in the future in 5G towers, through which you receive mobile communication signals, in electric vehicle chargers, and in the latest aircraft,» stated Space Forge CEO Josh Western.
The satellite with the experimental oven was launched in June 2025 by the SpaceX Transporter-14 rocket, but it took several months to activate the equipment. In the future, Space Forge plans to build a large orbital chip manufacturing plant and develop technology for safely bringing finished products back to Earth.
Recent developments in space manufacturing have shown promising avenues not only for semiconductor production but also for other industrial applications, highlighting the burgeoning potential of extraterrestrial industry. Companies are also eyeing the possibilities of using advanced robotics and AI to automate these processes, anticipating a considerable reduction in costs over traditional Earth-based methods. This progression marks a pivotal shift in our approach to resource manufacturing, promising not only advancements in technology but also sustainability through reduced terrestrial resource consumption.
