- DCUBED, a German NewSpace hardware manufacturer, announces a demonstration mission for in-space manufacturing, slated for Q1 2024. The mission aims to produce a 3D printed truss structure in free space.
- The company’s CEO, Dr. Thomas Sinn, emphasizes the disruptive potential of in-space manufacturing for various applications, including SmallSat solar arrays and large structures in orbit.
MUNICH, GERMANY & LOGAN, UTAH, August 10, 2023, In a move that promises to revolutionize the aerospace industry, DCUBED, a German NewSpace hardware manufacturer, has announced a world-first in-space manufacturing demonstration mission. Scheduled for the first quarter of 2024, the mission aims to produce a 3D printed truss structure in free space, marking the first time a product has been manufactured outside Earth’s atmosphere.
Breaking New Ground in Space Manufacturing
The demonstration will involve the production of a roughly 30-centimeter-high 3D printed truss structure. Designed to validate the efficacy of in-space manufacturing, the mission highlights the game-changing potential that such capabilities could bring to production in orbit.
“Payload limitations and costs are real barriers hindering the use of space for the benefit of mankind,” said Dr. Thomas Sinn, CEO and Founder of DCUBED. “Our demonstration of manufacturing in free space promises to revolutionize in-space fabrication and repair of space structures and trigger a paradigm shift in how we approach the production of space hardware.”
A Milestone for DCUBED and the Industry
The upcoming demonstration is a significant milestone in DCUBED’s strategy to establish in-space manufacturing capabilities for larger space structures. The company has plans for an in-orbit experiment of truss-structure manufacturing in 2025 and an in-orbit mission demonstration for multiple kilowatt (KW) SmallSat solar arrays in 2026.
Expanding Horizons
DCUBED, which already has 15 products in orbit, is in the process of establishing an office in Broomfield, Colorado. The move aims to position the company within the key United States space market, which is rapidly becoming a significant hub for the burgeoning New Space industry.
