{"id":509641,"date":"2024-12-04T06:47:06","date_gmt":"2024-12-04T11:47:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/spacenews.com\/?p=509641"},"modified":"2024-12-04T06:47:08","modified_gmt":"2024-12-04T11:47:08","slug":"sierra-space-partners-with-companies-for-space-based-semiconductor-manufacturing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spacenews.com\/sierra-space-partners-with-companies-for-space-based-semiconductor-manufacturing\/","title":{"rendered":"Sierra Space partners with companies for space-based semiconductor manufacturing"},"content":{"rendered":"

WASHINGTON \u2014 Sierra Space announced Dec. 4 agreements with two companies to study the use of its Dream Chaser vehicle and space station technology to support microgravity manufacturing.<\/p>

Sierra Space said it signed memoranda of understanding with Astral Materials and Space Forge Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of U.K.-based Space Forge Ltd., to examine the use of Sierra Space\u2019s technology for semiconductor development in space.<\/p>

\u201cAt Sierra Space, our mission is to create a LEO economy that benefits life on Earth, and these new agreements bring us one step closer,\u201d Tom Vice, chief executive of Sierra Space, said in a statement. \u201cTo create a strong space economy, we must harness microgravity, and to do that, it\u2019s important to build relationships with commercial companies that have the top expertise in their respective technological fields.\u201d<\/p>

Both Astral Materials and Space Forge are early-stage companies pursuing technologies to manufacture semiconductors in microgravity. Advocates of semiconductor development in microgravity argue that the environment can allow for improved production of semiconductor crystals.<\/p>

\u201cThe benefits of semiconductor manufacturing in LEO are clear. Earth\u2019s gravitational forces pose substantial barriers to quick, high-yield semiconductor production,\u201d concluded a report from a 2023 workshop<\/a> on semiconductor manufacturing in orbit led by Jessica Frick, then of Stanford University and now chief executive of Astral Materials.<\/p>

\u201cOur technology utilizes microgravity as a manufacturing tool that can only be accessed in space,\u201d Frick said in a statement about the partnership with Sierra Space. \u201cThis partnership with Sierra Space is a fantastic opportunity that allows us to focus on our strength: microgravity crystal growth.\u201d<\/p>

Under the agreement, Astral Materials will work with Sierra Space on designing projects that could be flown on Sierra Space\u2019s Dream Chaser vehicle. The agreement could also include cooperation on how to incorporate semiconductor manufacturing technologies into systems Sierra Space is developing for commercial space stations.<\/p>

Space Forge, under its separate agreement with Sierra Space, will work on technologies and \u201cproof-of-concept missions\u201d for semiconductor production in space. That also includes potential cooperation on how to incorporate semiconductor manufacturing into Sierra Space\u2019s space station systems.<\/p>

Space Forge established an office on Florida\u2019s Space Coast in September with a specific focus on semiconductor manufacturing in space, seeking to tap into new investment by the federal government into domestic semiconductor production.<\/p>

\u201cWe’re eager to play a key role in advancing the U.S. semiconductor industry, especially in line with the CHIPS and Science Act,\u201d Michelle Flemming, president of Space Forge Inc., said in a statement about the opening of its Florida office. \u201cBy using space as a unique lab, we aim to produce top-quality semiconductor materials that will significantly benefit U.S. defense, telecommunications, automotive, and other critical infrastructure industries.\u201d<\/p>

Sierra Space is not the only commercial space station developer that Space Forge is working with. In October, it announced a MOU with Voyager Space to study a range of space-based manufacturing applications. Voyager is the lead partner on the Starlab commercial space station.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sierra Space announced MOUs with two companies to study the use of its Dream Chaser and space station technology for microgravity manufacturing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10940,"featured_media":509643,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"mc4wp_mailchimp_campaign":[],"newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4148,4161],"tags":[12942,1066,3588,3951],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"coauthors":[544],"class_list":["post-509641","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commercial-archive","category-news-archive","tag-astral-materials","tag-microgravity","tag-sierra-space","tag-space-forge","entry"],"yoast_head":"\nSierra Space partners with companies for space-based semiconductor manufacturing - 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