In-Space Construction & Manufacturing
Launching finished structures from Earth limits their size and forces them to survive the constraints of a rocket fairing. Building directly in orbit could remove that constraint and make much larger space infrastructure possible. This category tracks companies developing manufacturing and assembly systems whose output stays in space.
- Companies
- 6
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Companies
- Dcubed
Dcubed develops deployable space structures, release mechanisms, and in space manufactured solar array systems for spacecraft and orbital power applications.
- Orbital Composites
Orbital Composites builds robotic manufacturing systems for advanced composite parts, including structures for aerospace and space applications and work on orbital infrastructure.
- Orbital Matter
Orbital Matter builds in orbit manufacturing and assembly systems that create large rigid structures in space instead of launching them folded from Earth.
- Redwire Corporation
Redwire builds space infrastructure, including on orbit servicing, assembly, and manufacturing systems for satellites and other space missions.
- Tensr
Tensr builds autonomous robotic factories that use data from each build to improve how production is planned and run, and it says those robots are moving to the ISS for in space manufacturing work.
- ThinkOrbital
ThinkOrbital builds space systems for in orbit inspection, servicing, and construction, with a focus on autonomous welding, X ray imaging, and large orbital infrastructure.