German firm to demonstrate in-orbit solar panel manufacturing in 2027

German company Dcubed GmbH is set to demonstrate in-orbit manufacturing of solar panels with its ARAQYS-D3 mission, planned for launch in early 2027 on a SpaceX rideshare. The mission aims to produce a 2kW solar array directly in space, designed to support power beaming and directed energy applications critical for emerging space economy needs such as orbital data centers, high-speed transportation, and defense constellations. This technology promises to overcome traditional solar panel limitations related to launch mass and deployment complexity by manufacturing arrays on orbit, potentially lowering costs per kilowatt and enabling scalable space power infrastructure. The ARAQYS system uses a novel approach combining an ultrathin flexible solar blanket that unrolls in orbit with a 3D printer that creates a rigid backing structure cured by space UV radiation. This method is intended to revolutionize space power generation by enabling larger, more efficient solar arrays without the constraints of Earth-based manufacturing and launch. Prior to ARA