WASHINGTON — Boeing announced it has begun 3D printing the structural panels that form the backbone of satellite solar arrays, a step the aerospace giant says will cut production times in half and help it keep pace with demand for faster spacecraft deployment.

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Sandra Erwin writes about military space programs, policy, technology and the industry that supports this sector. She has covered the military, the Pentagon, Congress and the defense industry for nearly two decades as editor of NDIA’s National Defense...