News: Suppliers
7 October 2025
Veeco launches Lumina+ MOCVD system
Epitaxial deposition and process equipment maker Veeco Instruments Inc of Plainview, NY, USA has announced the launch and first commercial multi-tool order for its new Lumina+ metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) system. Launch services and space systems firm Rocket Lab Corp of Long Beach, CA, USA (the parent company of space power provider SolAero Technologies Corp) has purchased the tools as part of its ongoing project under the Department of Commerce’s CHIPS and Science Act to expand domestic production of compound semiconductor products at its facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The new production platform enables “cost-effective scaling for next-generation applications,” says Anil Vijayendran, VP of the MOCVD product line at Veeco. The new platform combines “proven TurboDisc technology with breakthrough efficiency to set a new benchmark in compound semiconductor manufacturing,” he adds.
Rocket Lab set the benchmark for high-volume production of space-grade solar cells and solar panels more than 25 years ago, powering some of the largest satellites in orbit. With this investment, Rocket Lab will double production capacity for space-grade solar cells while also serving as a source for domestically produced compound semiconductor and electro-optical device technologies. The Lumina+ tool platform is claimed to have the largest arsenic phosphide (As/P) batch size in the MOCVD industry, best-in-class throughput, lowest cost per wafer, and industry-leading uniformity and repeatability for As/P processes.
Veeco’s collaboration with Rocket Lab also underscores the companies’ strong relationship. Rocket Lab has used Veeco platforms for over 20 years, and the new Lumina+ system is expected to set a foundation for collaboration for years to come.
“This collaboration will enable us to meet the increasing demand for satellite solar power and serve as a trusted source of domestically produced semiconductor technologies,” says Brad Clevenger, VP of Space Systems at Rocket Lab.
Combining scale with precision, the new Lumina+ system is said to offer improved process efficiency at the lowest cost of ownership. It aligns with the compound semiconductor industry’s roadmap for high-performance, cost-effective optoelectronic devices, across diverse industries including not only solar but also consumer electronics, automotive, optical communications, and biotechnology.
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