Space Forge aims to harness the unique advantages of space, including microgravity, vacuum, and extreme temperatures, to produce high-performance materials that cannot be manufactured on Earth. These breakthroughs have potential applications across semiconductors, quantum computing, clean energy, and defence, with research indicating space-made materials could reduce CO2 emissions by 75% and energy use by 60% in critical sectors.
This fresh capital will accelerate the development of ForgeStar-2, Space Forge's next-generation returnable manufacturing satellite, while supporting the company's upcoming ForgeStar-1 mission, scheduled to launch in 2025. Together, these missions will validate a scalable, reusable platform for in-orbit manufacturing, potentially reshaping global supply chains for critical technologies like semiconductors.
Space Forge CEO and Co-Founder Joshua Western highlighted the significance of this milestone: "This funding marks a significant milestone - not just for Space Forge, but for the entire space economy. With the backing of our investors, we're accelerating our mission to make space a practical and accessible platform for industrial-scale manufacturing. Our upcoming launches will prove that the future of materials innovation lies beyond Earth, helping us build a more secure, sustainable, and technologically advanced world."
The round's impressive roster of investors underscores Space Forge's growing role in advancing secure, sustainable technologies across aerospace, defence, and clean tech. Chris O'Connor, Partner at the NATO Innovation Fund, emphasized the strategic importance of the investment, stating, "We are excited to be supporting Space Forge - a company that is innovating material manufacturing, while also advancing Europe's access to space, supply chain independence, and long-term resiliency."
Daria Saharova, General Partner at World Fund, also stressed the critical need for European supply chain independence, particularly in semiconductor manufacturing. "Demand for computing power is doubling every two months. Europe imports 80% of its chip supply, with 90% of the world's most-advanced semiconductors coming from Taiwan. A geopolitical escalation there could have catastrophic consequences for Europe. We urgently need a resilient, homegrown supply of the next-gen supermaterials required for the future of compute," she said.
The UK government welcomed the news, with Industry Minister Sarah Jones noting, "This is great news for the UK's space industry, and a vote of confidence in the cutting-edge advanced manufacturing technology Space Forge is pioneering in Wales. Our modern Industrial Strategy will drive growth in these sectors even further, giving businesses the confidence they need to commit to investing in the UK and ensuring we remain a partner of choice for space agencies around the world."
The investment round also included support from Innovation Investment Capital Limited Partnership, backed by Cardiff Capital Region, Gaingels, SpaceVC, Unruly, Helium Three, Stellar, TypeOne, and the London Technology Club. These strategic collaborations, including partnerships with Sierra Space and Northrop Grumman, position Space Forge to lead the commercialization of in-space manufacturing from Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
ForgeStar-2, Space Forge's next-generation returnable manufacturing satellite, is expected to significantly advance the company's mission of transforming how critical materials are made, potentially reducing reliance on vulnerable Earth-based supply chains.
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