Plasma Generation Demonstrated Aboard World's First Commercial Semiconductor Manufacturing Satellite

A microwave-sized satellite has become the first platform to generate high-temperature plasma in orbit, marking the start of commercial semiconductor manufacturing beyond Earth.

Space Forge's ForgeStar-1 satellite generated plasma at 1,832°F (1,000°C) in December 2025, the first in-orbit plasma creation for semiconductor manufacturing.

Joshua Western, CEO of Space Forge, stated that generating plasma on orbit represents a fundamental shift in manufacturing capabilities, opening the door to a completely new frontier. ForgeStar-1 is the first free-flying commercial semiconductor manufacturing tool in space, leveraging microgravity to enable atomic alignment in semiconductors. This alignment, according to the company, could reduce electronic energy use by 60%.

The satellite's plasma generation system operates under controlled conditions, with temperatures monitored via onboard sensors.

The team notes that further validation is required to confirm long-term stability and scalability. £22.6M in Series A funding will support ForgeStar-2, designed to produce and return space-manufactured semiconductors. The next mission's timeline remains unspecified, pending regulatory and technical reviews.