Welsh space manufacturing start-up Space Forge announced an agreement with Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:VORB) to launch the first satellite developed in Wales.
The launch is expected to take place this summer out of Spaceport Cornwall and is part of a broader joint mission between the UK and US to open a domestic spaceport, according to a statement released by Virgin Orbit.
As part of the launch, a number Space Forge's satellites, ForgeStar, will be propelled into space and orbit the Earth for roughly 300 miles before returning.
Space Forge recently announced that its satellites can be deployed from conventional launchers to provide rapid, reliable and reusable in-space infrastructure, with this summer’s launch the first test of its capabilities of returning to the planet.
Based in Cardiff, Space Forge seeks to “lead the clean industrial revolution by harnessing space.”
The start-up aims to take advantage of conditions in space, such as temperature, vacuum and microgravity to create its technology for use on Earth.
It believes its equipment will be used in several industries, such as electronic and pharmaceuticals, and can be created in space much more efficiently than on the ground.
The statement also adds “manufacturing certain materials in space could reduce CO2 emissions by 75% – the equivalent to removing all petrol cars from the UK.”
“We will demonstrate the use of space for good through in-space manufacturing and reliable return and it's brilliant that both Virgin Orbit and Spaceport Cornwall share our ambitions,” said Space Forge chief executive Joshua Western.
“Space Forge is joining the growing community of space innovators advancing space technologies for the betterment of our world,” said Virgin Orbit chief executive Dan Hart.
Space Forge raised £7.6mln in December 2021, the largest seed fundraising for a European space company, receiving funding from the UK Space Agency, UK Research and Innovation and the Welsh Government.