https://doi.org/10.1140/epjs/s11734-026-02204-2
Review
Advances in additive manufacturing for space applications: technologies, innovations, and future directions
1
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, India
2
Centre for Space Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, India
a
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Received:
16
October
2025
Accepted:
12
February
2026
Published online:
11
March
2026
Abstract
Space exploration has experienced remarkable growth in the past few years, driven by the emergence of new technological advancements. This review aims to present a comprehensive overview of additive manufacturing technologies and their applications in the space industry. It examines how AM addresses the unique challenges of lightweighting, sustainability, and in situ fabrication for space missions. The paper also explores the emerging scope of 4D printing, highlights key innovations and research gaps, and outlines future directions to advance aerospace manufacturing and deep-space exploration. This paper adopts a systematic review methodology, synthesizing recent research articles, technical reports, and industrial case studies on AM for space applications. This article provides an overview of AM processes, detailing the various methods relevant to space applications. Further, it discusses specific AM applications in the space sector, including on-ground preparation, on-orbit manufacturing, and in situ resource utilization. Finally, explores the future avenues, opportunities, challenges for space applications. The review reveals that AM enables lightweight, complex, and mission-specific components for the space industry, supporting both on-Earth fabrication and ISRU. Current advances improve structural efficiency and reduce launch costs, while 4D printing offers adaptive solutions for future space habitats and deep-space missions. This paper offers a holistic perspective on the integration of AM and 4D printing within the space industry, combining technological insights with future-oriented applications. The review serves as a valuable reference to researchers for next-generation aerospace manufacturing strategies.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2026
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
