Space Forge launched and confirmed on-orbit communication with ForgeStar®-1, the UK’s first in-space manufacturing satellite, developed entirely in Wales.
The launch marks a major breakthrough for British-built space hardware and the next chapter in space-based industrial capability. This is the first time the UK has sent a spacecraft into orbit with the purpose of producing new materials in the unique conditions of space. Space Forge will also validate their re-entry technology that will eventually bring these materials home.
ForgeStar-1 launched aboard the Transporter-14 rideshare mission from SpaceX’s facilities at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. In the hours that followed, the satellite successfully activated and made contact with the Space Forge Mission Operations Centre in Cardiff, UK.
This successful launch marks the completion of more than four years of design, testing and regulatory milestones. The ForgeStar-1 satellite was built and qualified in-house by Space Forge’s Cardiff team. It became the first UK satellite to receive an in-space manufacturing license from the UK Civil Aviation Authority and was shipped across the Atlantic for integration and launch.
This first-of-its-kind in-orbit manufacturing demo is designed to prove the viability of producing advanced materials in the unique environment of space. The conditions in LEO offer advantages that are simply unattainable on Earth – from microgravity to ultra-clean vacuum conditions—and pave the way for scalable, returnable space-based manufacturing in the near future.
ForgeStar-1’s manufacturing platform, once fully operational, will enable Space Forge to test manufacturing techniques for next-generation semiconductors. As ForgeStar-1 completes its payload objectives, the mission will shift focus to testing a suite of pioneering return-enabling technologies. This includes the deployment of Pridwen, Space Forge’s proprietary heat shield; on-orbit aerodynamic control to steer and decelerate the satellite; and real-time orbital tracking paired with predictive re-entry mapping using the company’s Aether software.
While ForgeStar-1 won’t return to Earth, its mission will provide the critical test data, telemetry, and confidence needed to unlock future manufacturing missions—ones that will forge materials in space and bring them home.
Joshua Western, CEO and Co-founder, Space Forge, said, “We’ve built and launched Britain’s first manufacturing satellite and it’s alive in orbit, that’s a massive technical achievement. Now, we take the next step: proving that we can create the right environment for manufacturing in space. This is the start of a new era for materials science and industrial capability.”
Dr. Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency, which has previously supported Space Forge with funding, said, “This isn’t just another satellite—it’s a testament to British engineering and our commitment to developing in-space manufacturing technologies that can benefit life here on Earth. ForgeStar-1 exemplifies how the UK space sector is pushing boundaries in sustainable space technology, with its ability to return to Earth for refurbishment and reuse. This approach aligns directly with our ambitions to develop environmentally responsible access to space while creating high-skilled jobs across the UK. I’m immensely proud of the Space Forge team in Cardiff, and all those who supported this mission, demonstrating that the UK space sector is thriving and ready to tackle the opportunities and challenges of the future.”
