Insider Brief
- Sierra Space has signed new agreements with Astral Materials and Space Forge Inc. to advance semiconductor manufacturing in Low Earth Orbit.
- These partnerships aim to leverage the unique properties of microgravity to develop next-generation materials and technologies critical to a growing space-based economy.
- Under the agreements, Sierra Space will collaborate with Astral Materials and Space Forge on research and development for advanced semiconductor technologies.
- The partnerships also include potential integration of these technologies into Sierra Space’s orbital platforms, such as the Dream Chaser® spaceplane and future space stations.
Sierra Space announced it has signed new agreements with Astral Materials and Space Forge Inc. to advance semiconductor manufacturing in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). These partnerships aim to leverage the unique properties of microgravity to develop next-generation materials and technologies critical to a growing space-based economy.
Under the agreements, Sierra Space will collaborate with California-based Astral Materials and Florida-based Space Forge, the U.S. subsidiary of Space Forge Limited, on research and development for advanced semiconductor technologies. The partnerships also include potential integration of these technologies into Sierra Space’s orbital platforms, such as the Dream Chaser® spaceplane and future space stations.
Astral Materials specializes in growing ultra-high-quality semiconductor crystals using microgravity, enabling the production of defect-free materials for advanced chip technologies. The collaboration will focus on integrating Astral’s crystal growth capabilities with Sierra Space’s infrastructure. This includes payload design for orbital missions and potential enhancements to Sierra Space’s space station platforms.
Dr. Jessica Frick, CEO of Astral Materials, emphasized the value of leveraging Sierra Space’s infrastructure, stating, “Our technology utilizes microgravity as a manufacturing tool. Partnering with Sierra Space allows us to focus on our strength: microgravity crystal growth.”
Space Forge, known for its free-flying manufacturing facilities, will work with Sierra Space on proof-of-concept missions and R&D for semiconductor materials and components. The agreement also includes the potential for collaborative input on space station designs tailored for in-space manufacturing.
Michelle Flemming, President of Space Forge Inc., highlighted the partnership’s alignment with U.S. economic and security goals, noting that Sierra Space’s expertise provides a platform to advance sustainable and repeatable manufacturing in orbit.
Sierra Space CEO Tom Vice underscored the broader vision, stating, “To create a strong space economy, we must harness microgravity and build relationships with companies that bring top expertise to the table.” These collaborations align with Sierra Space’s mission to build a scalable LEO economy that supports technological innovation and economic growth on Earth.
Image credit: Sierra Space
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