Starlab Space, global industry experts in commercial low Earth orbit R&D and manufacturing infrastructure, has announced that it has secured a payload reservation from advanced materials developer Elethron for autonomous semiconductor materials processing aboard its planned commercial space station. Under the reservation, Elethron plans to deploy its ĀTAR materials processing platform aboard Starlab for a six-month pilot program focused on crystal growth and advanced materials development in microgravity. The autonomous, modular system is designed to support materials research and processing for applications including power electronics, RF systems, integrated photonics, sensing and electronics for extreme environments.

ĀTAR uses interchangeable Smart Cartridges and configurable processing protocols, allowing different materials and process conditions to be evaluated without requiring a complete payload redesign between campaigns. Elethron has developed the platform for deployment across both station class and free flying spacecraft. The company reports that its longer-term objective is to move selected materials processes from R&D into repeatable, in-orbit pilot production. The planned Starlab deployment will give Elethron access to sustained microgravity conditions for process development while generating operating data that can support subsequent materials qualification and integration. The company’s work centers on crystalline materials and ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor technologies, where crystal quality, defect formation and compositional uniformity directly affect the electrical and optical characteristics of finished devices.

Elethron advanced materials for semiconductor crystal growth and microgravity materials processing planned for deployment aboard Starlab, featured by Aerospace Technology Monthly.

Elethron plans to deploy its ĀTAR materials processing platform aboard Starlab Space for a six-month microgravity pilot focused on crystal growth and advanced semiconductor materials development.  (Image Courtesy of Elethron.)

“Microgravity has shown considerable potential in reducing defect formation and improving compositional uniformity as a crystal forms,” said Dr. Nick Bailey, Technical Director and Co-Founder of Elethron. “These are among the primary factors for achieving higher electronic and optical performance in next-generation semiconductor materials and devices, and ĀTAR allows us to extend our work on these materials into microgravity.”

The reservation also expands Starlab’s developing role as an orbital platform for advanced materials and semiconductor R&D. The station is being designed to support repeated R&D and manufacturing campaigns in low Earth orbit, providing academic, commercial and government end-users with internal payload infrastructure. Starlab has also announced separate payload commitments spanning semiconductor crystal growth, biomanufacturing and other microgravity research programs as it continues to build its future customer base.

“Advanced semiconductor materials are foundational in developing next generation electronics in space and terrestrial systems,” said Jonathan Volk, Starlab’s director of advanced materials applications and director of growth for Voyager Technologies’ VISTA Space Park. “Elethron’s ĀTAR platform demonstrates how Starlab can support the transition from materials research in microgravity to repeatable processing capabilities in orbit.”

Elethron’s broader materials program combines proprietary crystal growth processes, microgravity process engineering and computational modeling for semiconductor substrates and ultra-wide bandgap materials. The company is targeting applications across high-performance power electronics, RF communications, deep ultraviolet optoelectronics, integrated photonics and electronics intended to operate under demanding environmental conditions. Its microgravity work also incorporates physics-based modeling, autonomous instrumentation and configurable materials processing to support future in-space production.

For Starlab, the reservation adds another advanced manufacturing use case to a commercial station architecture intended to provide repeatable access to low Earth orbit after the retirement of the International Space Station. Its internal payload laboratory is being developed around modular payload platforms capable of supporting autonomous operations across a range of scientific, industrial and commercial research requirements.

About Starlab Space

Based in Houston, Texas, Starlab Space is a U.S.-led commercial space company developing a next-generation space station for research, technology development and manufacturing in low Earth orbit. The company operates as a joint venture among Voyager Technologies, Airbus, Mitsubishi Corporation, MDA Space, Palantir Technologies and Space Applications Services, with additional strategic partners supporting its commercial and research ecosystem. Starlab is being developed as a research and manufacturing platform supporting scientific, industrial and commercial payloads, with capabilities spanning microgravity research, advanced materials, biotechnology and technology development. For more information, please click here.

About Elethron

Headquartered in London, England, Elethron is an advanced materials and process engineering company specializing in semiconductor crystal materials, proprietary crystal growth processes and microgravity materials engineering. Its development work focuses on high-performance crystalline materials and ultra-wide bandgap technologies for power electronics, RF systems, photonics, sensing and extreme environments. The company’s ĀTAR platform is an autonomous, modular in-space laboratory designed for crystal growth, materials synthesis and process development aboard station class and free flying spacecraft in low Earth orbit. Its architecture supports Elethron’s own materials programs as well as processing campaigns for industrial, research and government users. To learn more, please click here. 

Source: Starlab Space

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Molly Bakewell Chamberlin
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