The British startup Space Forge is preparing to send a satellite to orbit for the production of new semiconductor materials that can be used in electronic devices on Earth.
According to Space Forge, their first experimental satellite was lost during an unsuccessful launch in January from Virgin Orbit in the UK. However, the company is now ready to launch their new satellite, Forgestar-1, in the USA at the end of 2023 or early 2024. The news was reported by Space.com.
Recently, Space Forge signed a cooperation agreement with the American aerospace giant Northrop Grumman. As per the agreement, Space Forge will supply semiconductor substrates produced in space, which Northrop will develop further in their plants.
Space Forge explains that semiconductor materials are necessary for many electronic technologies. However, their production on Earth is expensive and energy-intensive. The vacuum and microgravity of space provide an opportunity to develop completely new and more effective semiconductor materials.
The production of complex semiconductors is a slow and intense process, as they are grown from atoms. Gravity significantly affects production by changing the connections between atoms. In space, this obstacle can be overcome as there is no gravity.
In addition, the ideal cosmic vacuum is necessary to protect the sensitive material from pollution. On Earth, this vacuum is created by industrial machines. The combination of microgravity and the vacuum of space allows researchers to create semiconductors that are “10 times more effective than on earth,” according to Space Forge.
The Forgestar-1 satellite contains a miniature automated chemical laboratory, which will allow the command to remotely mix various chemical compounds and develop new semiconductor alloys after the satellite enters orbit. However, instead of sending materials back to the planet, Forgestar-1 will transmit the results of experiments in digital form, as the satellite is not designed for returning to Earth.
Space Forge is aiming to create their next mission with a satellite that can withstand the return through the atmosphere and deliver materials back to the ground. The company plans to focus not only on the production of semiconductors but also on the development of drugs, composite materials, and alloys. They anticipate launching the first reusable satellite for materials return in 2 to 3 years.