I4S 6/2025: Manufacturing in Space

Manufacturing leaves Earth: What long sounded like science fiction is rapidly developing into a strategic field of the future for industry. Falling launch costs and new players in the space industry are making production possible for the first time under completely new conditions—with properties that are impossible on Earth. Whether it’s in-orbit maintenance of satellites, production control in space, or the manufacture of human organs in microgravity, approaches are emerging in space that could transform entire industries. This issue of Industry 4.0 Science highlights opportunities, business models, technological barriers, and the path to scalable value chains beyond Earth’s surface.

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