Space Forge has raised £22.6 million in Series A funding, the largest ever secured by a UK-based space technology company. The investment will fast-track the rollout of its ForgeStar satellite platform, a reusable system designed to produce advanced materials in microgravity. Leading the round was the NATO Innovation Fund, joined by the National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF), World Fund, and the British Business Bank’s Regional Angels Programme. A range of private backers also contributed, including Sierra Space and Northrop Grumman.
ForgeStar-2 Now in Focus
The new capital will support the development of ForgeStar-2, a returnable manufacturing satellite intended for commercial deployment. Meanwhile, the firm continues to prepare its first mission, ForgeStar-1, expected to fly in 2025. That mission will serve as a key technology demonstrator. Space Forge’s aim is to establish a reliable in-orbit production and retrieval cycle, setting the groundwork for shifting critical supply chains away from Earth-bound limitations.
“This investment marks a turning point, not just for us as a company, but for the wider push to industrialise space,” said CEO Joshua Western. “We’re building a platform that allows innovation to happen in orbit and return safely to Earth, enabling new materials that aren’t possible to manufacture here.”
Strategic Investment, Global Relevance for Space Forge
The round attracted a broad mix of strategic capital, with investors pointing to the role Space Forge could play in strengthening Europe’s space and technology infrastructure. Chris O’Connor, partner at the NATO Innovation Fund, said the company’s work supports both industrial innovation and geopolitical stability: “What Space Forge is developing has implications for Europe’s independence in space access and future materials supply.”
Daria Saharova of World Fund pointed to the continent’s heavy reliance on overseas chip production: “Europe sources 80% of its semiconductors externally. With global tensions rising, this dependency puts our technological backbone at risk. We need to develop domestic capabilities for next-generation materials now.”
Industry Minister Sarah Jones welcomed the announcement as a major boost for the UK’s space and manufacturing ambitions. “This shows how cutting-edge innovation in Wales is helping position the UK as a key partner on the global space stage.”
Manufacturing from Orbit, On British Terms
With its ForgeStar programme gaining momentum, Space Forge is now at the centre of a growing industrial shift, one where Earth is no longer the only site for production. The firm’s partnerships with regional investors and international aerospace players reinforce its positioning at the forefront of this movement.
The success of ForgeStar-2 will be crucial. If the technology proves scalable, Space Forge could redefine how and where the world’s most vital materials are made.
Space Forge Manufacturing
Operating out of Cardiff, the company is focused on fabricating materials in space that cannot be reliably created on Earth. The vacuum, temperature extremes, and absence of gravity allow for precision processes across areas such as quantum technologies, sustainable energy systems, defence hardware, and high-performance semiconductors. Studies suggest these space-born materials could reduce energy demands by up to 60% and cut emissions by as much as 75% in specific applications.
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