Key facts
- Besxar is developing a method to manufacture semiconductor precursors in orbit.
- The startup will utilize SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket boosters for initial prototypes.
- Besxar has secured almost $14 million in funding, with a $9 million seed round led by Dauntless Ventures and Overture VC.
- Initial tests on a Starlink mission showed that orbital conditions resulted in cleaner wafer samples.
- The company aims to scale up production and eventually use SpaceX's Starship for larger orbital fabs.
Startup Besxar is planning to develop an orbital semiconductor factory by leveraging the vacuum of space and utilizing SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket boosters for its prototypes. Founded by former OpenAI staffer Ashley Pilipiszyn, the company aims to overcome the challenges of contamination on Earth that plague semiconductor manufacturing.
Besxar has raised nearly $14 million, including a $9 million seed round led by Dauntless Ventures and Overture VC. Pilipiszyn stated that it is becoming more cost-effective to manufacture in space where the physics are more favorable, avoiding the need for extensive cleanroom infrastructure on Earth.
The company's initial 'fabships' were successfully tested on a recent Starlink mission. These small canisters were designed to protect wafer samples from contamination and expose them to the vacuum of space. Despite a data system malfunction in one canister, the flown samples were found to be exceptionally clean, with less particulate matter than terrestrial wafers.
Besxar intends to continue iterating on its technology over the next two years. The long-term goal is to deploy larger semiconductor fabrication facilities aboard SpaceX's Starship, a next-generation rocket currently under development. Pilipiszyn initially approached SpaceX three years ago to discuss potential collaborations, eventually settling on the booster payload deal to de-risk the technology.
Future development steps include heating wafers, depositing single materials, and then multiple materials. Once qualification samples are produced, Besxar plans to supply leading chipmakers with wafers for advanced chips used in data centers, robotics, and electric vehicles. The company faces competition from other firms exploring space-based semiconductor manufacturing, but believes the availability of reliable and cost-effective rocket transport is key to scaling production.
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