PADS (Printer Assisted Deployment System)
Compact printer that builds one continuous hollow boom in orbit, 10 m to over 100 m long, to unfurl large solar arrays, radiators and antennas.
Why it matters
Big power-hungry satellites, orbital data centers and multi-module stations need structures larger than any fairing allows. Printing the backbone in orbit replaces hinges, latches and motors that add cost and failure points.
How the technology works
PADS extrudes a liquid resin the company calls SPACECRETE and cures it with UV light in seconds into a joint-free boom. The process draws less power than a light bulb and the unit is smaller than a brick.
Replicator missions (2024 to 2026) test longer booms, with customer missions planned from 2026 to 2028.
Sources
Updated Oct 22, 2026 · How we source facts · Suggest a correction