DCUBED, a German house expertise firm, and the Hochschule München College of Utilized Sciences have been awarded funding for a joint analysis undertaking by the Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wirtschaft, Landesentwicklung und Energie (Bavarian Ministry of Financial Affairs). The funding is a part of the Bavarian House Analysis Program, via which the state authorities helps the event of applied sciences promising to beat the societal challenges of the long run. The overall quantity of the undertaking quantities to greater than $1 million – two-thirds of which is offered by the state.

Launching in January 2024, the two-year undertaking focuses on relevant analysis and growth within the discipline of in-space manufacturing (ISM). In 2024, DCUBED will perform the world’s first demonstration of this expertise in open house. Additional testing in 2025 will assist the event of in-space manufacturing (ISM) as much as full market readiness.

The primary use case for ISM would be the manufacturing of assist constructions for satellite tv for pc photo voltaic panels from photopolymer utilizing 3D printing in house. At present, the entire constructions are prefabricated and assembled on Earth – requiring a posh unfolding mechanism that has to face up to the excessive stresses of a rocket launch. As compared, panels printed utilizing ISM aren’t solely lighter in weight, less complicated, and subsequently much less susceptible to errors, however may also result in value financial savings of as much as two orders of magnitude.

“The Bavarian authorities’s backing is the most important subsidy we’ve ever acquired for this expertise: This can be a nice affirmation of our capabilities. On this foundation, we’re aiming to do one thing that has by no means been achieved earlier than: We need to be the primary to indicate that manufacturing constructions straight in house is feasible. And we need to be the primary to develop in-space manufacturing capabilities to market maturity,” mentioned Thomas Sinn, CEO and Founding father of DCUBED.

“We’re wanting ahead to additional intensifying our well-established partnership with DCUBED. Collectively we’re pioneering true innovation: The power to fabricate in house will open up fully new potential for enterprise and science. This can enable us to profit much more from applied sciences from house on Earth sooner or later,” mentioned Markus Pietras, Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Hochschule München College of Utilized Sciences.

“Supporting modern applied sciences within the aerospace sector is a crucial consider additional strengthening Bavaria as a high-tech area. The dedication of DCUBED and Hochschule München within the discipline of in-space manufacturing is a powerful instance of how analysis and trade can work collectively to push the boundaries of what’s potential,” mentioned Dietmar Schneyer, Head of the Division of Aerospace and Mobility on the Bavarian State Ministry of Financial Affairs, Regional Growth, and Vitality.