In November 2024, NASA awarded ICON's Project Olympus a $57.2 million SBIR Phase III contract for lunar surface construction systems—validating the commercial trajectory of regolith-based additive manufacturing. This milestone confirms five years of technical maturation (2020-2025) during which solar concentrator-driven sintering achieved compressive strengths of 4-100+ MPa, regolith-polymer composites reached 50 wt% loading in PEEK matrices with tensile strengths of 59-79 MPa, and extrusion systems demonstrated waterless geopolymers at 42 MPa compressive strength. This white paper examines state-of-the-art extraterrestrial 3D printing technologies validated through NASA-supported programs, ESA demonstrations, and commercial partnerships. As Artemis missions target sustained lunar presence by the early 2030s, the 2025-2030 period represents a critical transition from laboratory-scale validation to flight-ready systems, creating strategic positioning opportunities for infrastructure development, in-situ resource utilization, and off-Earth manufacturing ecosystems.

Space manufacturing is rapidly transforming from a fascinating concept to a crucial cog in the global economic machine. With the space economy projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035, the significance of in-space manufacturing (ISAM) cannot be overstated. This burgeoning field leverages microgravity conditions to create innovative materials and processes, opening up new avenues of growth. In this article, we delve into the economic prospects, technological advancements, challenges, and real-world applications of space manufacturing, offering a glimpse into the future of this groundbreaking industry.