– Space Forge has successfully integrated its next-generation ForgeStar®-1 satellite - marking a significant milestone on the path to orbit for the aptly named ‘The Forge Awakens’ mission.


Following the shipment of ForgeStar-1 to the United States in April, the integration phase represents the final technical hurdle ahead of launch later this year.

The mission will demonstrate the feasibility of producing advanced materials in space - materials designed to redefine critical industries including semiconductors, quantum computing, clean energy, and defence.

This announcement also marks the release of the official mission patch - continuing Space Forge’s tradition of commemorating each mission milestone through distinctive visual storytelling. 'The Forge Awakens' patch reflects the mission’s theme of renewal and technological discovery as Space Forge advances its vision for scalable in-space manufacturing.

By leveraging the unique conditions of low Earth orbit - microgravity, extreme temperatures, and vacuum - ForgeStar-1 is engineered to manufacture materials that cannot be produced terrestrially. These materials are expected to deliver substantial performance improvements across high-value sectors, with research indicating potential CO₂ emission reductions of up to 75% in key infrastructure applications such as electric vehicle charging networks and data centres.

This mission builds on Space Forge’s landmark achievement as the first company to secure a UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) licence for In-Space Manufacturing (ISAM), reinforcing its leadership within this rapidly developing market.

In addition to demonstrating in-space manufacturing, ForgeStar-1 will test Space Forge’s proprietary Pridwen heat shield technology. The system is designed to ensure safe atmospheric re-entry and satellite recovery, a critical step towards enabling scalable, repeatable manufacturing in orbit.

Joshua Western, CEO and Co-founder of Space Forge, commented: “Getting ForgeStar-1 ready for launch is the result of so much hard work - from design to testing to production. Now we’re set to show the world that in-space manufacturing isn’t just an idea anymore; it’s happening. ‘The Forge Awakens’ isn’t just a mission milestone - it’s the start of a whole new era of industry beyond Earth.”

With integration complete, Space Forge advances towards launch, progressing its ambition to establish space as a critical enabler for next-generation manufacturing technologies.