About Us

Space Forge is at the forefront of two industries undergoing a paradigm shift, semiconductors and space.

We are bringing the complexity of semiconductor manufacturing to the harsh environment of Space. The result is to create unparalleled improvements in semiconductor materials that will improve life on our planet. We established Space Forge in 2018 to realise this opportunity.
Since then the team has expanded to more than 70 staff operating across Europe and the USA.

The next industrial revolution isn't on Earth.
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● SPACE FORGE TEAM

Founders

Josh and Andrew have worked together over the past decade, having met in 2015 while working for a large space prime, developing some of Europe's most complex space missions.
Joshua Western
CEO & Co-Founder
Prior to Space Forge Josh worked at Thales Alenia Space - in business development for Earth Observation, Advanced Concepts, and defence. While in that role, he was also seconded to the UK Space Agency working across product development, protecting British satellites, and strategy where he wrote part of what became the UK’s first national space programme. More recently, he cried in a car park at Vandenberg when “ForgeStar-1, separation confirmed” came over the radio in June 2025. On his desk is a piece of kapton foil from Apollo 11’s Command Module, and one of his Great Grandfather’s WW2 medals for surviving being downed as a pathfinder pilot.
Andrew Bacon
CTO & Co-Founder
Andrew was formerly Thales Alenia Space UK's Head of Advanced Concepts. An IET Chartered Engineer and a member of a very small group in Europe with a background in plasmas physics and re-entry vehicle development, he designed and built the Lucy CVD payload that generated world-first plasma in LEO in December 2025. The first mission he contributed to was BepiColombo - a mission to Mercury.
Join the Team That’s Redefining the Future of Space
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Key People

Michelle Flemming
President, Space Forge Inc.
Michelle Flemming
President, Space Forge Inc.
Space Forge, Inc. is led by Michelle Flemming, a 15+ year veteran of the US space industry with vast experience creating value, engaging customers, drawing revenue, and managing cutting edge programs. A reputation for getting things done, her client list includes US Space Force, NASA, Collins Aerospace, JAXA, Purdue University, JPL, Southwest Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, Mayo Clinic, Kari/Chosun University, and many more. Over the years, she’s helped hundreds if not thousands of government, industry, and university scientists, technicians, and engineers achieve their space research goals.
Simon Chalkley
Chief Engineer
Simon Chalkley
Chief Engineer
34 years of experience as a systems engineer with Technical Lead roles within UK Industry and ESA project environments, working on high value EO Satellites, Science Missions, Payloads and Planetary Studies.
Andrew Griffiths
Head of Semiconductor Engineering
Andrew Griffiths
Head of Semiconductor Engineering
More than 12 years across III-V Epitaxy and 15 years Cleanroom and Semiconductor Process experience across a range of companies and continents, Andrew has a depth of knowledge of large organisations and building processes from the ground up.
Darren Cadman
Head of Semiconductor Business Development
Darren Cadman
Head of Semiconductor Business Development
Over 25 years' experience of business development and research management within the electronics manufacturing, semiconductor, and RF industries. Involved with the full range of technology maturity levels, from fundamental research through to volume production.

Board Members

Scott White
Chair
Joshua Western
CEO & Co-Founder
Before Space Forge, Josh worked across Thales Alenia Space and the UK Space Agency covering everything from business development to ensuring UK technologies were represented at the European Space Agency. Now he is leading the way to use the benefits of the space environment to make new materials that are not possible on Earth.
Benedict Olivier
Non-Executive Director
Joshua Western
CEO & Co-Founder
Before Space Forge, Josh worked across Thales Alenia Space and the UK Space Agency covering everything from business development to ensuring UK technologies were represented at the European Space Agency. Now he is leading the way to use the benefits of the space environment to make new materials that are not possible on Earth.
Patrick McCall
Non-Executive Director
Joshua Western
CEO & Co-Founder
Before Space Forge, Josh worked across Thales Alenia Space and the UK Space Agency covering everything from business development to ensuring UK technologies were represented at the European Space Agency. Now he is leading the way to use the benefits of the space environment to make new materials that are not possible on Earth.

Advisors

Alastair McGibbon
Advisor
Joshua Western
CEO & Co-Founder
Before Space Forge, Josh worked across Thales Alenia Space and the UK Space Agency covering everything from business development to ensuring UK technologies were represented at the European Space Agency. Now he is leading the way to use the benefits of the space environment to make new materials that are not possible on Earth.
Rodger Sykes
Advisor
Joshua Western
CEO & Co-Founder
Before Space Forge, Josh worked across Thales Alenia Space and the UK Space Agency covering everything from business development to ensuring UK technologies were represented at the European Space Agency. Now he is leading the way to use the benefits of the space environment to make new materials that are not possible on Earth.

Investors

● spaceforge locations

Our Locations

Space Forge's business is a global one. To return our materials from space, work with our partners and provide products to our customers, we need a presence that spans the globe. Space Forge is building that location by location. We have offices in three countries and operate across two continents, developing, manufacturing and supplying into the world's markets.
UK Cardiff
UK Swansea
US Florida
Portugal
United Kingdom, Cardiff

Space Forge Headquarters and space manufacturing hub. Our Cardiff site is our main manufacturing location, housing Wales's first dedicated satellite manufacturing cleanroom.

UK Swansea

Space Forge's materials development centre, focusing on the growth and processing of materials and developing our materials pilot line. Operating out of Swansea University's Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials (CISM).

US Florida

The Headquaters of Space Forge Incorporated on Florida's space coast. From here we are developing partnerships across the US and North America.

Portugal, Santa Maria

Space Forge Portugal is headquartered on the Island of Santa Maria. Here we are working with partners to develop a re-entry location to land our materials and bring them into the European market.

● Contact us

Become Part of the Next Industrial Revolution with us

If you are interested, want to know more about Space Forge technologies or see a business opportunity, get in touch.
● discuss your mission with us