Overview
- The Department of War approved a $7.1 million Defense Production Act Title III award to Martin Materials Solutions on July 7, 2026 to establish and expand space‑qualified coverglass manufacturing in Twinsburg, Ohio.
- Space photovoltaic coverglass is a thin, radiation‑resistant glass placed over satellite solar cells that shields them from radiation and micrometeorites, filters harmful wavelengths, and helps preserve power output over years in orbit.
- The funds will buy modern manufacturing and test equipment, hire specialized personnel, secure raw materials, and expand facilities so Martin Materials can produce coverglass at scale and reduce technical risk.
- This award is one of six DPA Title III investments made by the WIRE directorate in fiscal 2026, a package totaling $109.7 million that the Pentagon says is meant to add capacity for critical satellite components.
- Officials say the move strengthens the U.S. space industrial base by adding domestic capacity, creating local jobs in Ohio, and lowering the supply‑risk created by reliance on a small set of foreign and domestic suppliers.