French startup ArcSpace will demonstrate automated welding technology in Earth orbit in 2027, according to a report by industry publication European Spaceflight.
The space technology company has raised two million euros in new investment to fund the upcoming orbital demonstration mission.
In an interview with European Spaceflight, ArcSpace chief executive officer Guillaume Mohara explained that the test will feature a small payload weighing 12 kilograms. He described the hardware as very compact relative to the ambitious scale of the mission.
ArcSpace plans to send the welding system into orbit on board a spacecraft operated by an unnamed partner. The company stated that it would announce the identity of its launch partner at a later date.
In-space manufacturing and orbital infrastructure
Automated welding in Earth orbit is considered a critical building block for the emerging field of in-space manufacturing and assembly. Operating in low Earth orbit, where spacecraft orbit hundreds of kilometers above the planet, requires specialized techniques to join metal components in vacuum and microgravity conditions without atmospheric shielding gases.
In-space assembly allows space missions to overcome the strict weight and volume limitations imposed by rocket payload fairings. By welding structural components after launch, companies can potentially build larger satellite platforms, space stations, and solar power structures than could ever be launched in a single rocket payload.
The planned ArcSpace demonstration comes amidst broader commercial contract activity across the European space sector. European Spaceflight previously reported that European satellite operator SES signed a contract worth nearly one billion euros with German aerospace manufacturer OHB to develop and build satellite platforms for the Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite communication system, known as IRIS².
The IRIS² constellation is a major European Union initiative designed to provide secure multi-orbital satellite communications for government agencies and commercial users. It is envisioned as a European counterpart to SpaceX's Starlink network, which relies on thousands of low Earth orbit satellites to deliver global broadband internet access.
International space developments
In another major international space milestone this month, SpaceNews reported that Turkey became the 71st country to join the United States-led Artemis lunar exploration program.
The NASA-led Artemis program aims to return human missions to the lunar surface and establish long-term infrastructure for scientific research and deep space exploration. As international participation expands, commercial space startups like ArcSpace are developing the underlying orbital tools and automated manufacturing systems expected to support future space missions.
