Orbital Matter 3D printed the first rigid beam in the vacuum of space

Orbital Matter 3D printed the first rigid beam in the vacuum of space

An in-space construction first could be an enabler for the space data centers of the future.

Orbital Matter Satellite Builds Half-Meter Beam in Orbit

Replicator 2 carried four printers, and a follow-up mission planned for 2028 will test a larger printer and a solar array designed to generate five kilowatts.

Orbital Matter prints first rigid beam in open space, but scaling is unproven

Orbital Matter has claimed that its Replicator 2 satellite has created a rigid beam of 50 centimeters directly in the vacuum of space. The company calls this achievement a first for any free-flying spacecraft in orbit around Earth. The breakthrough could eventually allow engineers to construct larger structures in orbit. However, half a meter is...