German space-hardware manufacturer Dcubed has outlined plans for three demonstration missions aimed at validating a new printable in-space solar array system designed to build low-cost power units directly in orbit.
The technology, called Araqys, is intended to allow spacecraft operators to manufacture large solar structures on demand rather than rely on conventional, pre-integrated solar panels. Dcubed says the approach could significantly reduce costs and expand the scale of power generation available in space.
The first two test flights are scheduled for early 2026. Araqys-D1, a 3U satellite slated to launch in the first quarter of 2026, will attempt to build a 60-cm boom meant to support future solar blankets. Araqys-D2, flying aboard an Exotrail Spacevan mission in the same period, will demonstrate 3D-printing of a UV-curing resin to harden the underside of a soft solar blanket and form a one-metre array.
A third mission, Araqys-D3, will combine both technologies. The spacecraft is planned to launch on a SpaceX rideshare in early 2027 and attempt to build a 1-by-15-metre solar array capable of producing 2 kilowatts of power.
Although Dcubed acknowledges that the printed solar blanket is less efficient than traditional space-grade photovoltaic cells, the company expects substantial cost advantages. “We want to make unlimited power in space a reality… We can print as large as we want. There’s no limit,” CEO Thomas Sinn said. “The idea is to bring the dollar per watt down into the double digits.”
Beyond lowering manufacturing costs, Dcubed says Araqys could let operators scale their power systems up or down while in orbit. Sinn said the system could print one square metre of array in about two minutes, enabling rapid power increases for spacecraft using electric propulsion or high-demand payloads, and allowing operators to jettison panels to reduce drag or radar cross-section.
For commercial spacecraft, the technology could support periodic replacement of degraded solar arrays years into a mission’s life, extending operational longevity.
Dcubed expects Araqys to be commercially available as early as 2027. Larger versions are planned for subsequent years, including a 5-kW array in 2028 and a 10-kW unit in 2029.
