OrbiSky awarded UK Space Agency contract for in-orbit manufacturing verification
SkyYield will define process controls and verification for ZBLAN optical fibre manufacturing in microgravity.
OrbiSky Advances Space Manufacturing
United Kingdom, 12th Feb 2026 – OrbiSky has secured a UK Space Agency contract for SkyYield, a project focused on defining an end-to-end payload concept for manufacturing ZBLAN optical fibre in Low Earth Orbit. The programme will also establish the process controls and verification methods required for commercial adoption.
Importantly, the work addresses a key bottleneck in in-orbit manufacturing. It focuses on generating credible and auditable evidence that space-manufactured materials meet acceptance requirements for real missions and real customers.
Sylvester Kaczmarek, Chief Executive Officer at OrbiSky, said: “SkyYield is about turning the unique conditions of microgravity into real-world capability. With UK Space Agency support, we’ll define a credible, end-to-end payload concept for manufacturing ultra-low-loss ZBLAN optical fibre in orbit, including the process controls and verification needed for commercial adoption. This is an important step towards new UK-led markets in space manufacturing, with clear benefits for telecoms and medical imaging.”
Advancing Trusted Space Manufacturing
ZBLAN is a specialist optical fibre with the potential to deliver significantly lower signal loss than traditional silica fibre, with applications spanning telecommunications and medical imaging. Microgravity processing can improve material outcomes, but adoption depends on repeatability, monitoring, and proof of quality that customers can trust.
The UK Space Agency has identified in-orbit servicing, assembly and manufacturing (ISAM) as a priority capability area for UK leadership, growth, and national security. SkyYield supports that direction by focusing on the verification and acceptance layer needed to move from one-off demonstrations to operational capability.
Further Information Available Online
More information is available in the UK Space Agency announcement and on OrbiSky’s website.
UK Space Agency announcement: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-studies-for-manufacturing-advanced-materials-in-orbit
OrbiSky: https://orbisky.com/
About OrbiSky
OrbiSky is a London-based space technology company focused on secure autonomy, verification, and assurance for space operations. The company builds practical trust mechanisms that help new space capabilities scale safely, with a focus on ISAM and in-orbit manufacturing.
Company Details
Organization: OrbiSky
Contact Person: Sylvester Kaczmarek
Website: https://orbisky.com/
Email: Send Email
Country: United Kingdom
Release Id: 12022641337