ForgeStar-1
Space Forge's first satellite, a small spacecraft testing whether the conditions for growing semiconductor crystals can be created and controlled on an uncrewed satellite in orbit.
Why it matters
Space Forge says crystals grown in weightlessness and vacuum could be far cleaner than those grown on Earth. If a seed crystal made in orbit can be scaled up on the ground, it could improve chips used in power electronics and communications.
How the technology works
The satellite generates plasma, the conditions needed for gas-phase crystal growth, and runs test sweeps to map how it behaves in microgravity. ForgeStar-1 does not return; it is planned to burn up in a controlled way as its orbit decays.