This spacecraft system could bring ‘supermaterials’ back to Earth

A UK startup has unveiled a unique system for bringing spacecraft back to Earth.

The company, named Space Forge, developed the tech to provide a low-cost and sustainable way of reusing satellites. Ultimately, the startup wants the system to support in-space manufacturing, which can produce materials that can’t be made on Earth.

These “supermaterials” have transformative potential for electronics, pharmaceuticals, and alloys. Unfortunately, returning them to Earth is currently painfully complex and costly.

To solve this problem, Space Forge developed two separate components: a hover-net called Fielder and a heat shield dubbed Pridwen.

Named after King Arthur’s legendary shield, Pridwen is made of a flexible alloy fabric that can withstand harsh temperatures. It’s also reusable, unlike conventional “ablative” heatshields, which must be replaced after every flight.

To fit inside a launcher vehicle, Pridwen folds into a compact size. To protect its cargo on the return journey, the origamic-style heatshield expands. Joshua Western, the cofounder of Space Forge, describes the system as “Mary Poppins but from space.”

Prototypes of Pridwen

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