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Market Snapshot: In-Space Manufacturing

In-space manufacturing (ISM) encompasses the production and assembly of goods in space, beyond the earth’s atmosphere, to create products such  as artificial retinas, tissues, structures and parts, advanced materials, semiconductors and many others. As space exploration ventures further from Earth, the logistical challenges and associated costs associated with resupply missions and repairs become increasingly cost prohibitive. By reducing reliance on Earth-based supply chains, ISM could enhance the flexibility of future space missions. In this article, we provide a snapshot of the  status ISM and identify funding opportunities that small businesses can consider as they pursue research and development (R&D) funding for technology development.

Valued by MarketsandMarkets at $4.6 billion in 2030, the in-space manufacturing market is expected to expand exponentially to $62.8 billion by 2040, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 29.7%. A McKinsey analysis suggests that  R&D and manufacturing is approaching reality. The anticipated growth can be attributed to factors such as technological advancements in enabling technologies like 3D printers and bio-printers, space robotics for assembly and automation, and the miniaturization of hardware. Additionally, the growing demands of the space industry, heightened interest in space-based R&D manufacturing, and availability of funding for in space manufacturing contribute to this projected growth.

Factories in Space has compiled a list of over 200 companies engaged in this market, spanning emerging startups to well-established aerospace and defense entities. According to MarketsandMarkets, the key players in this sector include Airbus SAS, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Blue Origin LLC, Sierra Space Corp., Redwire Corporation, Axiom Space, Inc., Astroscale Holdings, Inc., Astrobotic Technology, Inc., Orbit Fab, Inc., Astra Space, Inc., Le Global Graphene Group, Inc., Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc., Momentus Space, Inc., and others. Other notable small companies include  Varda Space Industries Inc., LambdaVision, CisLunar Industries, Auxilium Biotechnologies, Space Forge, Inc., Dcubed, Lunar Resources, Inc. and Faraday Technology, Astral Materials, and many others.

Advanced technology firms often require funding to advance the maturation of their technology. Funding opportunities are available in the form of non-dilutive funding sources from the federal government and various states. NASA’s In-Space Production Applications program (InSPA) is an applied research and development program sponsored by NASA and the International Space Station National Lab aimed at demonstrating space-based manufacturing and production activities by using the unique space environment to develop, test, or mature products and processes that could have an economic impact. On an annual and ongoing basis, NASA releases two calls for white papers from U.S. entities through Special Focus Area #1 (In Space Production Applications) of the NASA Research Announcement NNJ13ZBG001N, “Research Opportunities for International Space Station Utilization.” Companies with the highest-rated white papers are subsequently invited to submit a comprehensive proposal. Other programs such as the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR), administered by 11 federal agencies can help de-risk early-stage in space manufacturing ventures. Through competitive awards, the SBIR and STTR enable small businesses to explore their technological and commercialization potential. To be eligible for the SBIR/STTR program, a company must be a United States-based, for-profit, small business with 500 or fewer employees, at least 51% U.S.-owned and controlled. Additionally,  States also offer financial assistance to small companies in the form of grants, loans, and investments, as well as networking opportunities.

Upcoming events for networking in 2026, include the following conferences:

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Fusion Energy Overview

Fusion is a potential energy source and occurs when one or more lighter elements combine to form a heavier element, releasing energy in the process. [1] Devices designed to harness this energy are known as fusion reactors. [2]   A future fusion plant could use the heat produced by the fusion reaction to produce steam to drive turbines or generators that produce electricity. [3] For almost a century, scientists around the globe have been looking to recreate and harness the power of fusion energy. [4]  

Tokamak
Source: ITER

There are two commonly pursued technologies to create and control plasma. Magnetic confinement uses strong magnets to contain plasma. A widely used configuration known as a tokamak[5] uses powerful magnets to confine the plasma within a toroidal reaction vessel, with the magnetic fields keeping the plasma away from the walls of the vessel to prevent damage and unintended cooling of the plasma.[6]  

Examples of U.S. companies developing magnetic confinement systems are Commonwealth Fusion Systems, TAE Technologies, Tokamak Energy, Helion Energy, and Thea Energy. Inertial confinement uses high-power lasers or electrical discharges to compress a small capsule of fusion fuel to extreme temperatures and pressures for a short time. This approach is used, for example, in the National Ignition Facility at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. [7] Examples of U.S. companies developing inertial confinement systems are Xcimer Energy, Focused Energy, ZAP Energy, and Shine Technologies. In addition to these methods, several companies such as General Fusion,  are pursuing various other pathways to try to create and control fusion reactions, including a hybrid of both magnetic and inertial confinement approaches. [8]

Various fusion fuels are used to power these pursued pathways. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, once developed, first-generation fusion plants may likely use a combination of abundant deuterium and lithium as fuel. [9] Deuterium, lithium and tritium Deuterium-tritium is a highly studied fusion fuel and a likely basis for the first fusion power plants.[10] Lithium is a critical resource for fusion because of its material properties. Lithium is used to breed tritium, the key fuel for fusion. [11] The rare lithium-6 form of the metal, which makes up only 7.5 per cent of all naturally occurring lithium, is the most efficient for sustaining the fusion process. [12] Li-6 is banned in the U.S. because of the harmful mercury waste it generates. [13] So most fusion power concepts rely on “enriched” lithium, where the Li-6 content has been boosted. [14]

Several companies are investing in efforts aimed at commercializing fusion energy. [15] Many of these companies are startups that have raised over $100 million in the past few years. [16]  The global fusion energy market size is projected to reach $611.8 billion by 2034, expanding at a CAGR of 5.56% from 2025 to 2034. [17] 

Current State - Projections of the time to putting Fusion Energy on the Grid

As of October 2025, fusion reactors remain pre-commercial, with no system yet producing net energy. Fusion energy stakeholders provide varying timelines as to when fusion energy will become technically feasible as an energy source for the electrical grid and when it will become commercially viable.  Projections range from 10 years to several decades in the future. [18]   Some companies are claiming that they will achieve commercial fusion energy in the next few years[19] while other stakeholders and experts said fusion energy will take more than 20 years. The Fusion Industry Association reported that many commercial companies predict fusion industry will be commercially viable in the 2030’s time frame. [19] 

Source: The Global Fusion Industry in 2025—Fusion Industry Association

Other stakeholders and experts believe fusion energy might put electricity on the grid in 10 to 20 years, however, significant resources are required to do so.[20] The Figure below illustrates commercialization risks that fusion energy will face on the road to commercial deployment. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the aspirational timeline as shown is strongly dependent on the level of both public and private investments. [21]

Commercialization risks for fusion

Source. U.S. Department of Energy, Fusion Energy Strategy 2024

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