➀ Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have integrated flexible electronics into a self-deploying boom for cube sats. The boom is made of a three-ply carbon fiber and epoxy composite, and is expected to launch in 2025. ➁ The team aimed to add function to weight-constrained cube sats while ensuring they can withstand the harsh environment of space. ➂ The research has resulted in a pool of data for future designs and improvements.