Rocket Lab Corporation has announced an increase in US investment to expand space semiconductors and ensure the safety. President Trump's administration supports these initiatives with a grant from 23,9 million dollars from the US Department of Commerce under the CHIPS and Science Act, aimed at maintaining US leadership in space semiconductor technologies.
This investment meets the growing demand for reliable US supply chains for solar cells and sensors, used in spacecraft and satellites. Over the next five years, Rocket Lab plans to strengthen its position as a leading manufacturer of satellites, component supplier and provider of complex space missions for commercial and defense purposes. The company is one of two in the US, specializing in high performance, radiation-resistant semiconductors for space.
The investment complements Rocket Lab's plans to expand production of space systems and includes the acquisition of Geost, a Tucson-based manufacturer of electro-optical payloads, Arizona, and Northern Virginia, for 275 millions of dollars. This multi-million dollar investment will strengthen the US semiconductor industry and drive innovation for commercial and military satellite missions.
Thanks to the investment, Rocket Lab plans to:
- Double the production of semiconductors and solar cells from 20 000 to 35 000 plates per month.
- To provide American manufacturers of space equipment with access to advanced domestic semiconductor and electro-optical technologies.
- Expand the capabilities of rapid delivery of integrated space systems for US national security needs.
- Promote economic growth in California, Colorado, Merlinde, New Mexico, mississippi, Arizona and Northern Virginia, increasing the staff to more than 2000 employees.
Rocket Lab's solar cells have already been used in key missions, such as the James Webb Space Telescope, Artemis lunar missions, the Ingenuity Martian helicopter and the Mars Insight lander, which highlights the company's role in innovation and supply chain security. The investment will strengthen manufacturing capacity in New Mexico, where Rocket Lab works over 25 years, and will create new jobs and economic opportunities in several states.
Source: https://news.satnews.com