U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., and Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., and U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., along with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, will be joined by U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves and White House CHIPS Coordinator Ryan Harper in New Mexico on July 15 to highlight how the latest $24 million investment from the CHIPS and Science Act will further solidify New Mexico’s role as a leader in advanced manufacturing and create over 100 direct manufacturing jobs in Albuquerque.
In June, the U.S. Department of Commerce and SolAero by Rocket Lab — an Albuquerque-based manufacturing company — agreed to preliminary terms for a $23.9 million investment, which would enable SolAero to increase its production of compound semiconductors for spacecraft and satellites, as part of an expansion and modernization of their facility in Albuquerque.
Headquartered in Albuquerque, SolAero is one of two companies domestically, and three companies outside of Russia and China, that specializes in the production of highly efficient and radiation-resistant compound semiconductors called space-grade solar cells—devices used in space to convert light into electricity.
Rocket Lab's space-grade solar cells power critical space programs such as missile awareness systems and exploratory science missions, including the James Webb Space Telescope, NASA’s Artemis lunar explorations, Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, and the Mars Insight Lander. Rocket Lab's technology also serves a booming commercial satellite market, such as powering the OneWeb broadband internet satellite constellation. As the U.S. and other nations expand their technological presence in space, there is a growing demand for space-grade solar cells.
This proposed CHIPS investment would help create a more robust and resilient supply of space-grade solar cells. The modernization and expansion project will increase their compound semiconductor production by 50% within the next three years—helping to domestically meet the growing national security and consumer demand for these solar cells.
