so we have 3d printers and we have satellites but what if i told you that this next generation
satellite will 3d print itself in space and maiden space is doing exactly that called
arcana 1 the satellite could be a game changer in how we design future spacecraft parking 1
represents a technology development which has never been done before no one has printed in
space no one has done robotic assembly and no one has done the sort of in-situ verification that we
are planning to do and made in space seems to be the right company to do it they're no stranger
to the world of in-space manufacturing which involves the challenge of printing in microgravity
but since 2014 they've sent multiple 3d printers to the iss where astronauts have
printed more than 200 parts on board now the mis team hopes to push the boundaries even
further with arcana 1 and they have nasa's full support as the project is under nasa's tipping
point project the program granted mis roughly 75 million dollars and a new mission name on orbit
servicing assembly and manufacturing or osam 2 but since that's a mouthful we'll be sticking to
arcana 1. the company's previous 3d printers have been operating within the safe confines of the iss
but with arcana 1 they'll have to confront the extremes of space the main two subsystems of the
arcana satellite are going to be a additive manufacturing extended structure machine
that builds very long booms and then also robotic arm that then assembles things on the space trap
so to help prepare the hardware for the harsh environment of space the team tested out the 3d
printer's capabilities it printed out a variety of structures in a special northrop grumman facility
that mimicked the conditions of space the robotic arms were also tested for their
assembly and manufacturing duties again in a simulated space environment and so far
everything seems to be working out but how exactly will this all operate once it's in orbit well when
arcana 1 launches it will head into low earth orbit and that is where the real work begins
it will start by 3d printing two 10 meter long beams on either side of the spacecraft
assisted by the robotic arm and in-situ verification technology on board
it's at this point where the solar panels will start to unfurl so they can help generate power
and these huge panels will reportedly produce up to five times more power than regular solar panels
the goal for the satellite is to demonstrate in-space robotic manufacturing and assembly on an
operational mission in the future this small satellite could build even more complex structures
like reflectors space telescopes and antennae just to name a few satellites today have a structure
which is designed to survive the first 10 minutes of the mission right a 15-year mission needs to
have a structure that can survive launch in a sense of the satellite that is a very big very
heavy structure what arcana one allows us to do is fabricate this entire satellite on orbit
that's just it arcana 1 is just a test but if it's successful it could completely change
the way we build satellites in space i mean imagine what that type of technology could do
for future lunar habitats like nasa's gateway outpost or conceptual technology that has never
been feasible to fly to space like star shades or space interferometers and having on-orbit 3d
printing capabilities lessens the need for heavy payloads and allows astronauts to print their
own tools because as we venture out beyond low earth orbit there will be a lot of things that
we'll need along for the trip as we explore the solar system we go further and further away that
requires the technologies that made in space is working on to enable those long distance missions
sure you could wait for a resupply mission if you're on mars but it makes much more sense just
to just to print up a wrench that you need and on top of that arcana one could also be capable of
repairing and building upon existing structures which could help reduce the need for astronaut
spacewalks which could be dangerous so let's just say archinaut 1 is gonna have its hands full once
it launches but we still have a while to go before we see the satellite take to the skies right now
arcana 1 is expected to launch in early 2023 and when it does it could reshape how we build
and live in space for the first time we have a dedicated satellite mission to be building
very large things in space when we first set out to start this company we wanted to help
humanity live and work in space and one thing you need to do eventually is to build very large
things for people to live in and this is the first step along the way there's no doubt that traveling
into space is a huge mental and physical challenge it's not like you and i could just hop on board
the next space mission but what would happen if it did well that's exactly what plays out in
nickelodeon's upcoming series the astronauts where a group of totally unprepared kids
accidentally launched themselves into space to join this nail-biting but exciting adventure
tune into nickelodeon to catch the astronauts you don't want to miss it for more rocket launches
check out our countdown to launch series here if there are any other launches that you want to see
us cover let us know in the comments below be sure to subscribe to seeker and thanks for watching