Orbital Matter prints a half-metre beam in orbit, targeting larger solar arrays
The German startup says its Replicator 2 satellite printed a rigid, half-metre beam in the vacuum of space, which it calls a first for a free-flying spacecraft. One of two printers tasked with deploying a flexible solar array failed, but the printed boom from the other deployed the array. Orbital Matter plans a larger demonstration in 2028, aiming for a 5-kilowatt solar array.
Bottom line — Orbital Matter’s 2028 test will move beyond a half-metre beam towards a 5-kilowatt array.
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Replicator 2 carried four printers and launched on a SpaceX rideshare mission this summer, according to TechCrunch.
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The printers extrude coils of resin and cure them with ultraviolet light, according to TechCrunch.
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Orbital Matter worked on the demonstration with the European Space Agency and Thales Alenia, according to TechCrunch.
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The beam’s length was limited by the resin carried on the satellite; company engineers believe 100-metre booms are feasible, TokenPost reports.
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Orbital Matter’s stated roadmap targets wings generating more than 100 kilowatts by 2030, but Cryptopolitan notes that larger systems remain unproven.
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The company is discussing its printer-assisted deployment system with satellite builders, which could use it to extend solar panels or antennas, TechCrunch reports.