Space Forge Lands £10 Million Investment
Space Forge, a Cardiff-based company focused on advancing in-space manufacturing, has secured a £10 million investment from the European Space Agency (ESA). The funding, announced on June 11, 2026, will support the development of innovative technologies aimed at making space manufacturing more practical and cost-effective.
Making Space Work for Humanity
Co-founded by Andrew Bacon, who serves as Chief Technology Officer, and Joshua Western, the Chief Executive Officer, Space Forge is dedicated to the concept of "making space work for humanity." The company specializes in producing semiconductors in microgravity, an environment that allows for the creation of materials with unique properties that are unattainable on Earth.
Lead Investor: European Space Agency
The £10 million investment comes through the ESA’s General Support Technology Programme, funded by the UK Space Agency. This collaboration will focus on advancing Space Forge’s mission to enhance the feasibility of returning materials manufactured in space back to Earth.
Development of the Pridwen Heat Shield
A significant portion of the funding will be allocated to the development of 'Pridwen,' a new fold-out heat shield system. Named after the legendary shield of King Arthur, Pridwen is designed to ensure safe atmospheric re-entry and satellite recovery. Unlike traditional heat shields, which are often rigid and heavy, Pridwen is a deployable system that provides a larger protective surface area. This design makes it lighter, easier to recover, and more practical for reuse.
The mission aims to bring Pridwen to full commercial readiness, enabling frequent and reliable returns of space-manufactured cargo, which is crucial for the growth of the in-space manufacturing industry.
Achievements and Future Goals
Space Forge recently completed its first orbital mission, 'The Forge Awakens,' where it successfully generated plasma aboard its ForgeStar-1 satellite. This marked a world-first for commercial in-space manufacturing, proving that the necessary conditions to produce next-generation semiconductor materials can be created and controlled in low Earth orbit.
The next challenge for Space Forge is to reliably return these materials to Earth. Pridwen plays a pivotal role in this process, as it will demonstrate the capability for safe, routine returns, bridging the gap between manufacturing in space and bringing the materials back for use on Earth.
Looking Ahead
With the new funding from ESA, Space Forge is set to advance its technologies and strengthen its position as a leader in the in-space manufacturing sector. The successful development and implementation of the Pridwen heat shield could redefine how materials are manufactured and transported from space, offering new possibilities for industries reliant on advanced materials.