The UK Space Agency has awarded nearly £850,000 in funding to three British companies to explore manufacturing advanced materials in Low Earth Orbit
These three companies will investigate how space conditions can enable the production of medicines, optical fibres, and semiconductors that are difficult or impossible to make on Earth.
Operating in microgravity, natural vacuum, and extreme temperature environments, in-orbit manufacturing has the potential to improve product quality while reducing costs and environmental impact.
Focusing on in-orbit servicing and manufacturing
The three research projects support the UK’s new focus on in-orbit servicing, assembly, and manufacturing, known as ISAM. This capability area is identified as critical for long-term economic growth, technological leadership, and national security.
Each funded study will assess technical feasibility, advance key enabling technologies, and outline realistic routes to commercialisation. The work is intended to prove scientific concepts but also to ensure that space-manufactured products can be adopted by existing industries on Earth.
Life-saving medicines from microgravity
BioOrbit Ltd has received £250,000 to develop an end-to-end mission concept for manufacturing pharmaceuticals in microgravity. The study, known as PHARM, focuses on producing highly uniform protein crystals that are difficult to achieve under Earth’s gravity.
Dr Katie King, CEO of BioOrbit, said:
“Space made pharmaceuticals will have a dramatic impact on all of our lives. BioOrbit’s PHARM study ensures that we can produce drugs in space under the same regulation as drugs made on Earth – which will be a world first.”
These improved crystal structures could lead to more effective and stable drug formulations, including cancer treatments that could be administered at home rather than in hospitals. A key part of the study involves working with regulatory bodies to ensure that space-manufactured medicines meet the same standards as terrestrial pharmaceuticals.
Next-generation semiconductors made in space
Space Forge Ltd has been awarded £300,000 for its 2Forge2Furious study, which aims to show how semiconductor seed crystals could be produced commercially in orbit. Microgravity manufacturing could significantly improve crystal purity, leading to more efficient and reliable high-power electronic devices.
Potential applications include telecommunications infrastructure, data centres, electric vehicle charging systems, and emerging quantum computing technologies. The project builds on Space Forge’s previous in-orbit technology demonstrations and focuses on progressing towards full commercial viability.
Ultra-low-loss optical fibres
OrbiSky Ltd has received £295,000 to develop SkyYield, a payload concept for manufacturing ZBLAN fluoride glass in microgravity. ZBLAN optical fibre can transmit light with dramatically lower signal loss than conventional silica fibre, making it highly attractive for telecommunications and medical imaging.
The study will define the processing methods, quality controls, and verification techniques needed to support commercial adoption of space-manufactured fibre.
The investment is jointly funded through the UK Space Agency’s Sustainability & ISAM and Unlocking Space programmes. Together, they aim to remove barriers to commercial adoption, engage new public and private sector users, and stimulate demand for space-enabled technologies.
