German startup Orbital Matter said one of its satellites has 3D printed a half-meter rigid beam in the vacuum of space using a custom plastic material. Company executives described it as the first time a free-flying spacecraft has carried out this kind of in-orbit printing, calling it a step toward building larger structures in space. The work was performed by the company’s Replicator-2 small satellite, which carries four 3D printers and was launched this summer on a SpaceX rideshare mission. According to the company, each printer forms rigid cylindrical beams by extruding resin coils and curing them with ultraviolet light, a process it compared to cement and water. Chief executive and co-founder Jakub Stojek said the mission showed for the first time that arrays of any size could be built in space based on mission needs. Orbital Matter is also working with the European Space Agency and satellite manufacturer Thales Alenia Space. TechCrunch was cited as the source of the report.
German startup Orbital Matter said one of its satellites has 3D printed a half-meter rigid beam in the vacuum of space using a custom plastic material.
Company executives said the result marks the first time a free-flying spacecraft has carried out this type of printing in orbit. They described it as a step toward building large structures in space.
Replicator-2 carried four 3D printers
The mission was carried out by Orbital Matter’s Replicator-2 small satellite. It was launched this summer on a SpaceX rideshare mission and carries four 3D printers.
According to the company, each printer produces rigid cylindrical beams by extruding resin coils and curing them with ultraviolet light. Orbital Matter compared the process to cement and water.
Company points to mission-driven construction in space
Jakub Stojek, Orbital Matter’s chief executive officer and co-founder, said Replicator-2 demonstrated for the first time that arrays of any size can be built in space based on mission requirements.
The company is working with the European Space Agency and Thales Alenia Space, a European satellite manufacturer.
The report was cited by TechCrunch.
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