Made In Space
Division
Pioneered the use of 3D printing in a microgravity environment, developing the first 3D printer to operate on the International Space Station (ISS). Their technology enables the manufacturing of tools, parts, and other necessary items in space, reducing the need to launch everything from Earth.
- CEO / Founder
- Andrew Rush
- Team Size
- 501-1000
- Stage
- Acquired
- Total Funding
- $1.5M
- Latest Round
- Acquired
- Key Investors
- AE Industrial Partners (via Redwire), Type One Ventures, SpaceFund, Space Angels, Starlight Ventures, Starbridge Venture Capital
Technology & Products
Key Products
Pioneered in-space manufacturing with the first 3D printer on the ISS. Developed Archinaut, a robotic manufacturing and assembly system for in-space construction, and technologies for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) and regolith additive manufacturing.
Technological Advantage
By manufacturing in space, the company eliminates the constraints of launch, allowing for the creation of structures and parts that are too large or delicate to survive a rocket launch. This opens up new possibilities for space infrastructure and exploration.
Patent position
Made In Space filed 28 patent families across all years, compared with Northrop Grumman’s 76. AMPulse analysis
- Filing momentum
- 0 families filed 2022–2024, 2 in 2019–2021
- Filed in
- US 79%EP 11%WO 7%CN 4%
- Named competitors, AM patent families
- Northrop Grumman 76
28 AM patent families in total. Recent years are still being published, so read a filing change against the same-office figure.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Enabling on-demand, in-space manufacturing to significantly reduce launch costs, decrease mission risk, and enhance the capabilities of space missions.
How They Differentiate
Pioneering experience and flight heritage with multiple successful manufacturing units on the ISS. Their focus on robotic assembly (Archinaut) sets them apart.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Government space agencies (like NASA), commercial space companies, and other entities involved in space exploration and operations.
Industry Verticals
Aerospace, Defense, Pharmaceuticals
Competitors
Varda Space Industries; Maxar Technologies; Northrop Grumman
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
Successfully deployed and operated multiple 3D printers on the ISS, demonstrating the viability of in-space manufacturing.
Major Milestones
2010: Company founded., 2014: First 3D printer (Zero-G Printer) launched to the ISS., 2016: Additive Manufacturing Facility (AMF) launched to the ISS., 2020: Acquired by Redwire., 2021: Redwire goes public via SPAC merger.
Notable Customers
NASA
AM patents
AM-relevant patents linked to this company.
- Patents
- 34
- Granted
- 19
- Families
- 28
Leading domains: process (34), equipment (24), software (11)
Filings by year: 2019: 2 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 6
- Additive manufactured waveguides10751988 · US
- Terrestrial and space-based manufacturing systems10725451 · US
- In-situ resource preparation and utilization methods11285664 · US
- MANUFACTURING IN MICROGRAVITY AND VARYING EXTERNAL FORCE ENVIRONMENTS2015060923 · WO
- Universal long-term in space structural erection system11834206 · US
Funding rounds
- AcquiredUndisclosed2020-06Lead: Redwire · Source: CB Insights/Wikipedia
- SeedUndisclosed2018-01Source: CB Insights/i3connect