The new National Microgravity Center promises a revolution in materials production
Space Forge has received funding of £7.9 million from the UK Space Agency to build the National Microgravity Research Facility.
The total cost of the project is £13 million, which will be achieved through shared contributions. This investment will enable the company to create a first-of-its-kind National Microgravity Research Center that will stimulate materials research and production and contribute to the growth of the space sector.
The National Microgravity Center, being developed by Space Forge, will play a key role in advancing research into space manufacturing. Particular attention will be paid to inorganic crystalline structures that will be grown in microgravity and used in electronics.
Global semiconductor industry revenues are expected to grow to $1 trillion by 2030, and are expected to double over this decade. This growth will require investment in high-quality materials, equipment and services for wafer production. Manufacturing in space offers unique advantages, such as microgravity and vacuum conditions, which can result in semiconductors with better performance and fewer defects than those produced on Earth.
Space Forge's materials research will focus on two key areas: developing and optimizing semiconductor growth tools, including growing a variety of semiconductor substrates and building post-processing capabilities aimed at maximizing the potential of materials returned from low-Earth orbit.
In addition to research areas, the center will offer open access and support to space companies. Initiative «Path to Space» will allow companies to gain access to state-of-the-art equipment, facilities, electronics laboratories and payload bays, providing a platform to advance research and development in the space sector.
Space Forge will support companies throughout their journey — from design and development to testing and support — with a focus on return missions. In addition to these resources, participants in the «Path to Space» will benefit from Space Forge's extensive network, including investors who have volunteered to provide personal support to develop and accelerate business growth. This funding is expected to create new opportunities for space exploration and innovation in space manufacturing.