DCubed Partners With D-Orbit To Demo In-Space Manufacturing Capability

DCubed, a cutting-edge German startup renowned for its expertise in deployable satellite structures, has partnered with D-Orbit, a prominent Italian space logistics firm; to announce plans to pioneer in-space manufacturing with an upcoming demonstration mission. 

The demonstration payload is scheduled for launch in the fourth quarter of 2023, aboard D-Orbit's ION satellite. D-Orbit's innovative technology will facilitate the deployment of cubesats, allowing for precise positioning.

"The first step is to go into space and show that this is possible," - Thomas Sinn, DCubed CEO and Founder

3D printing has found its place within the confines of the International Space Station, the capability to manufacture structural components in the vacuum of free space has remained uncharted territory. The demonstration will employ an extrusion process to manufacture a 30-centimeter-long truss structure in the zero-gravity environment of orbit.

"We will extrude a linear element, a tube, in one direction...we can also extrude other shapes" - Michael Kringer, DCubed Engineer

While the initial demonstration may seem relatively straightforward, its overarching purpose is to validate the feasibility of in-space manufacturing. This development holds immense promise for the satellite industry's future, particularly for high-power applications in small satellites.

"We see the industry moving towards very high-power applications for small satellites...They want more power than they can achieve with conventional foldout solar arrays. Our idea is to create 5- to 10-kilowatt solar arrays with flexible photovoltaic blankets on a truss structure." - Thomas Sinn, DCubed CEO and Founder

Beyond its implications for satellite technology, in-space manufacturing holds substantial significance for deep space exploration endeavors.

"We need to become independent of Earth-centered manufacturing...If we aspire to journey to Mars or other celestial bodies, it is unfeasible to transport every single component." - Michael Kringer, DCubed Engineer

As the boundaries of technological innovation continue to expand, DCubed's in-space manufacturing demonstration stands poised to redefine the possibilities of satellite construction and deep space exploration.