\n<\/p>\n
Rocket Lab is poised to snap up around $24 million in federal funding to dramatically boost the production of its compound semiconductors, also known as solar cells, which provide power to satellites and spacecraft.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The funding, which would go to Rocket Lab subsidiary SolAero Technologies, would help increase the company\u2019s compound semiconductor production by 50% within the next three years. Rocket Lab-made solar cells have been used to power hundreds of satellites and spacecraft, including critical science like the James Webb Space Telescope and commercial constellations like OneWeb\u2019s satellite internet constellation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The U.S. Commerce Department announced the non-binding preliminary funding agreement on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cSolar cells are important for keeping our communication and space technology powered and operational, and this proposed award would help our military, NASA, and our commercial space industry have access to the specialty semiconductors they need,\u201d Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a statement.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n In addition to the federal funding, the state of New Mexico \u2014 where SolAero is based \u2014 committed to providing financing and incentives that value $25.5 million. The funding would help the company build out its Albuquerque-based facilities and create more than 100 direct manufacturing jobs, Rocket Lab said in a statement.\u00a0<\/p>\n The new funding would come out of a $52.7 billion pot of money that was created with the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act by President Joe Biden in 2022. It aims to revitalize domestic semiconductor manufacturing and increase domestic supply chain resilience.\u00a0<\/p>\n