German space hardware company DCUBED has announced that it will launch an in-space solar array manufacturing demonstration mission in 2025.
The mission is expected to be launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 in February 2025. DCUBED received $1 million from the Bavarian Space Porgamme and the Bavarian Ministry for Economic Affairs in December 2023 in part to execute the demonstration mission. This week, DCUBED announced that it would also be supported by the European Space Agency through its ScaleUp INVEST programme.
“By having the European Space Agency support the first ever in-space 3D printed solar array via the ScaleUp INVEST programme element, we enable an exciting opportunity for a European company to demonstrate a disruptive technology,” said Gianluigi Baldesi, head of ventures and finance at ESA. “This never seen before in-orbit demonstration will fuel the commercial growth of the space-based solar arrays market worldwide.”
The DCUBED in-space manufactured (ISM) solar array system will utilize ultrathin solar array sheeting. A rigid structure will be printed directly onto the sheeting as it is unrolled. Once the manufacturing process is complete, the solar array produced during the demonstration mission will be capable of generating more than 100W of power.
The demonstration mission will be followed by the company’s initial offering of 1 kW ISM solar arrays for smaller satellites or space tugs. The company expects to launch this initial product offering in 2025. The company then expects to introduce a more powerful 10 kW variant for space tugs in 2026.
